This could be potentially serious if it comes into force and might affect those who don't qualify directly for PR or those of us who are hoping to get in under the Family Sponsorship Category. Basically it sounds like they're wanting to cut out all but the cream of the crop. Let's hope they concentrate on pruning the Pacific Islanders etc. first.
Migration policies are bad for the economy, says academic
5:00AM Tuesday July 10, 2007
By Angela Gregory
New Zealand's immigration policies attract far fewer skilled migrants than suggested and while good at building new suburbs are bad for the economy, says a Massey University academic.
Dr Greg Clydesdale, an economist who lectures in management and international business, said there was conflict between those who wanted to cut immigration to reduce house price pressure and those who saw the need for skilled immigrants.
Dr Clydesdale said the solution would be to cut back on immigrants who did not bring in skills.
Drawing on the Department of Labour's migration trends 2004 data, he said only 15 per cent of immigrants had skills the country needed.
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