The government says new visa rules will help get skilled people into the regions.

The employer-led visa aims to help business more easily employ migrants when needed, while still prioritising jobs for Kiwis.

Small Business Minister Stuart Nash told Mike Hosking it'll help get the right people where they're needed.

"What we don't want is unskilled people going to Auckland and clogging up infrastructure."

National MP Mark Mitchell says the problem at the moment is a backlog of immigration applications.

"I know of a lot of cases in my electorate that have been pending for months, which is it disrupting people's lives."

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