“At the same time, we need to ensure that New Zealanders are put to the front of the line for jobs where there are no skills shortages.”  

Stanford said on Sunday New Zealand’s migration numbers were “unsustainable” and getting the settings right were “critical to this Government’s plan to rebuild the economy”.  

She said the reforms would better balance “the needs of business with the wider interests of New Zealand”.  

The decision comes after net migration skyrocketed to a record 133,800 in the year to January. 

Stanford said many of the changes being made were not new, rather a return to pre-pandemic settings.  

New Zealand under the previous Government, under pressure from the Opposition to do so, boosted migration numbers after emerging from COVID-19 restrictions to help businesses fill dire staff shortages.