Why the Obsession with Skilled Migrants Only?

High productivity companies and jobs that lift the standard of living of New Zealand require highly skilled people, and people with valuable networks. Immigration can be an effective way to broaden the high productivity sector in New Zealand, by filling those sorts of gaps in our jobs market. The kind of migrants who can strengthen New Zealand's exporting productivity add a significant amount to New Zealand's economy. Our unique lifestyle and natural beauty can attract highly skilled people to do this with us in New Zealand, and TOP believes we should be doing more to make it easy and attractive.

This is not to say that we should not also be looking to invite people for non-economic reasons, of course. Refugees, family immigration building closer ties with Pacific nations as per our agreements with them all still play a role. But at least in the economic migration category, we should be looking to maximise the value of these migrants to New Zealand.