Government wants fewer immigrants
1:40PM Thursday July 05, 2007
Persistent inflation has forced the Government to lower its resident migrants target despite ongoing skill shortages in several industries.
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe today said the New Zealand Residence Programme for the coming year would target 45,000 to 50,000 migrants, compared with 47,000 to 52,000 in the past year.
"With the economy strong and New Zealand competing in a global market for skilled migrants, our top priority at present is ensuring we get high quality migrants while not adding to inflationary pressures," he said.
Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has raised the official cash rate three times this year and has cited high immigration as one of the factors underpinning a housing market that continues to rise.
Mr Cunliffe said one of the ways the Government would look to meet any additional skill shortages was through temporary migrants.
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