Government hopes of boosting economic and jobs hopes in the provinces by encouraging a greater geographical spread of immigrants have a tentative thumbs-up from parliamentary rival and Napier MP Stuart Nash.
"I thought about it for a while, and I thought, well, let's give it a go," he said last night.
"It is an instrument, there's a whole lot of stuff that can be done, but anything that helps get the regions going has got to be good."
At the National Party conference in Auckland yesterday, Prime Minister John Key outlined changes he says will benefit regional New Zealand with skills, labour and capital that migrants can bring to the country.
"Our future is in being open to the rest of the world, in connecting with other countries and making the most of those linkages," he said.
"We welcome migrants who can make a contribution to New Zealand, and we value the benefits and opportunities that free-trade agreements can deliver.
If we can get an equal crack at all markets we are up there with the best in the world."
New measures to take effect in November include boosting bonus points for skilled migrants applying for residence with a job offer outside Auckland from 10 to 30 points, doubling Entrepreneur Work Visa points for those planning businesses in the provinces from 20 to 40 points, and streamlining labour market tests to provide employers with more certainty, earlier in the visa application process.
In addition, from mid-2016 a pathway to residence will be provided for a limited number of long-term migrants on temporary work visas in the South Island.
"I'm not going to diss it," Mr Nash said.
"But let's see. It's not going to cost the Government anything."
He said the major priority for the regions is restoring regional development funding.
"That's where the real difference will be made," he said.