Some criticism from Labour, but outright dismissal from New Zealand First over a new report into immigration.

The report by business think tank the New Zealand Initiative warns against cutting the numbers of migrants coming here to work.

LISTEN ABOVE: Business NZ boss Kirk Hope says NZ relies on immigration for skilled workers because the country's education system isn't delivering.

It says they're not to blame for high house prices or job shortages.

It's also proposed a tax on immigrants coming here to work, to help with infrastructure costs.

Labour's immigration spokesperson Ian Lees-Galloway said it's good to have perspectives - but the report glosses over immigrants' impact on housing, work and wages.

"That's cold comfort for people who are on low incomes, struggling to make ends meet, struggling to pay the rent, and finding it impossible to save for a house."

New Zealand also needs to look at the number of temporary work visas that are issue, before anything else is done, he argued.

"Without doing something about the number of people who are transitioning from temporary work visas to residency, I don't think migrant levies or anything else like that are going to have the real impact."

Meanwhile New Zealand First's Winston Peters said the report is wrong, and just shows the think tank is economically biased.

"They want to drive wages down, they want to drive competition worker market up, and they're pushing an old barrel."

Peters is sticking to his line that mass immigration isn't good for the country, despite the findings in the report suggesting it is.

However, Act leader David Seymour has thrown his weight behind the proposed migrant levy.

A report recommends the levy on new migrants to New Zealand to help pay for infrastructure such as schools, healthcare and roads.

The Government hasn't ruled out the idea and David Seymour said it's well worth considering.

"They'd have to do the numbers first - the devil is in the detail. But, in principle, there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting the fees right so we don't have to get into all these xenophobic arguments about who contributes and who doesn't."