The Department of Labour in New Zealand has almost filled its Samoan immigration quota for the first time in years.
The Department eased restrictions on the quota after only about half the Samoan places were filled between 2001 and 2003
It lowered the minimum wage accepted, released quota places throughout the year, and helped a number of New Zealand companies directly recruit Samoans from the quota.
This year, 1,091 Samoans were granted residency through the system, just nine people short of the target.
Mary Anne Thompson, from the Labour Department, says an extra 3 hundred and 91 places were also granted residency from previous years.
