New Zealand's 'targeted' immigration policy, 1991 to 1996

The tide of economic rationalism which has swept over New Zealand since 1984 included a new enthusiasm for business migrants and other well-qualified immigrants. In 1991 a points test was introduced to target these groups for selection but, while the overall intake had a nominal cap of 25,000 per annum, keen demand for places in the new program meant that the cap was soon exceeded by more than 100 per cent. Immigration became increasingly controversial. In October 1995 the points system was adjusted so that annual caps would not be exceeded, selection criteria were tightened, and steep fees were introduced for applicants with inadequate English. (This is the second instalment of a two-part series on the recent history of New Zealand immigration. See vol. 4, no. 3, 1996, for the years 1986 to 1991.) Copyright. Monash University and the author/s