An annual ballot to give some Pacific Island citizens New Zealand residency is now open.
The Immigration service says up to 1100 people from Samoa will be granted residency, with 400 places open to people from certain other Pacific nations.
People can begin to apply from 1 May and the ballot will be drawn on 9 July.
Those who are drawn from the ballot must still meet a number of requirements, including having a job offer that meets set pay levels.
Immigration Nigel Bickle says the labour market downturn over the past few years has seen a drop in the number of ballot winners meeting the job requirements.
