It is hoped new immigration rules will lead to an influx of fresh ideas and fresh businesses for New Zealand's regions.

Prime Minister John Key announced measures to encourage skilled migrants and businesses to move to the regions at the National Party conference in Auckland yesterday.

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The new rules are designed to boost local economies through increasing bonus points used to calculate whether residency requests should be approved or denied. Skilled workers who take jobs in the regions will have bonus points bumped up from an extra 10 to an extra 30 points.

New migrants will also have to stay for at least 12 months, rather than just three.

Local Government New Zealand's President Lawrence Yule, who is also the Mayor of Hastings, said there will be some work available for new migrants.

"A lot of people who move into the regions that are migrants actually end up creating their own businesses and their own opportunities," Yule said.

"What you tend to find in regions is outsiders come in, and they look at things in a different way and they find opportunities that often the locals can't quite see."

Those who set up businesses outside Auckland will be given 40 extra points, doubled from the current 20.

Yule said that although the migrants may not all ultimately stay, many of those who start something of their own will.

Sociologist Paul Spoonley says regions face the challenge of being more welcoming, to ensure migrants actually stay beyond the new 12 month minimum.

He thinks many migrants are drawn to Auckland, for good reasons.

"Auckland is where our large immigrant communities are based, so if you go to some regions you are going to find very few from your community in that region."

During his speech yesterday the Prime Minister assured New Zealanders would always be first in line for jobs, and said Auckland, as the country's largest city, would continue to grow.

"We're not making it harder to come to Auckland, we are making it more attractive for people to go around the regions. Now we do have that soft cap that sits at around 45,000 to 50,000 people, but I don't think it will have a dramatic impact."

Key said there's no question some people will see an easier pathway when they look at what's on offer, but he couldn't say how many .

"We can't tell you exactly up front. It will make it certainly more attractive, I don't know the exact numbers. I do know that there is capacity in the regions, that there is demand in the regions, and we've seen migration flows be very successful there."

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters views the rule change as an admission from the Government that it has a crisis in Auckland.

"They're doing this as a cut and paste to try and show that they're doing something," he said.

Until now employers could not communicate directly with Work and Income about overseas job applicants.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said employers have been calling the process cumbersome.

"What we are getting is employers speaking to Work and Income much more proactively. So that they understand what New Zealanders are available to do the jobs, and when it's not it is a much smoother process to gain visas for overseas workers."

Yesterday the Prime Minister stated the party should be cautiously optimistic about its prospects for the next election.

His deputy and Finance Minister Bill English was centre stage yesterday, with an upbeat message about the economy.

"We have every confidence that New Zealanders will be able to adapt where they need to, to the economic pressures that are changing, but continue to look ahead positively about the investment they can make and the opportunities they can create."

He said New Zealand was on track for sustainable, moderate growth.

He expressed confidence in the party's ability to lead into the future, if it can maintain public support.

"We can make fundamental long term change to the way New Zealand works, and the outlook for every New Zealander."

The Government's full immigration reform includes:

Skilled workers who take jobs in the regions will have bonus points bumped up from an extra 10 to an extra 30 points.
Those who set up businesses outside Auckland will be given 40 extra points, doubled from the current 20.

Employers will be able to contact Work and Income directly to check whether New Zealanders are available to fill a particular vacancy before they lodge a visa application with Immigration New Zealand.

A pathway to residence will be provided for a limited number of long-term migrants on temporary work visas in the South Island.