Labour's immigration spokesman Trevor Mallard disputed this, saying the number of New Zealanders returning home - in particular from Australia - was driving net migration increases. He said the survey indicated most New Zealanders understood that getting skilled migrants into the country was important and could create jobs for people.
Labour's immigration reforms would target visa categories for low-skilled, low-pay jobs which did not boost New Zealand's economy and undercut the local workforce.
The party has said it would place further controls on immigration after Treasury predicted net migration would soon increase to almost 40,000 a year.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he was surprised a third of respondents felt immigration levels were too high given the lack of attention to immigration issues.
He said the figure would be higher still if the Government measured the number of foreigners purchasing houses or if media focused more closely on the negative impacts of higher immigration levels.
"Given how little is disclosed as to house ownership, land ownership, to job occupation, to ease of entry, to superannuation accessibility ... that figure of just 35 per cent is staggeringly high, and it will only get higher as people learn more about the truth of the matter."