NZ First leader Winston Peters has called for dramatic cuts in the numbers of new migrants. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NZ First leader Winston Peters has called for dramatic cuts in the numbers of new migrants. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NZ First leader Winston Peters had been suspiciously quiet on immigration until last week.

The party's policy was on its website but scarcely a word was said about it, a stark contrast from previous elections when it was one of NZ First's main campaign planks.

Just as Labour was beginning to think it had quietened the beast with its Immigration Bill - a promise to overhaul immigration processes and provide for tighter border security - Mr Peters popped up in Nelson demanding migrant numbers be cut.

The prompt was the grim economic outlook and forecasts of job losses, and the target was migrants.

Mr Peters called for dramatic cuts from 50,000 a year to 10,000 and for family reunification to be restricted to immediate family only, saying jobs had to be protected for Kiwis.

The Greens called for an increase in migrants, especially refugees, and for space to also be ensured for "climate change refugees" forced out of their countries by rising sea levels.

Despite the dog-whistle style of his politicking, Mr Peters did strike at the heart of what all parties will have to wrestle with in their immigration policies.

In a recession, the challenge will lie in adapting immigration policies to suit an environment where jobs are much scarcer from catering to a time of record low unemployment and tight labour market.

All parties support some levels of migration, citing its critical role in growing the economy, filling gaps where New Zealand does not have enough workers and ensuring the population does not shrink.

All also cite the need to ensure policies are targeted at areas where New Zealand is short of workers or skills and want some checks to ensure New Zealanders are not missing out on jobs.

Labour sees the current 50,000 migrants who get residency each year as about right. Helen Clark said last week that any changes to address growing unemployment would be made by cutting the approximately 116,000 short-term work permits issued each year, rather than residency. She notes New Zealand has never been able to produce all the skilled people it needs.

Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove has already taken some pre-emptive action in this regard. He split the temporary "general" work permit into two parts to make it easier for highly skilled people to get work permits but putting more checks in on those coming into low-skilled jobs.

He also argues that weighting immigration policy to give preference to those coming into a specific list of jobs where New Zealand has a shortage of workers will ensure only the workers needed are allowed in.