APIA (Radio New Zealand) - Immigration changes are being negotiated with Samoa to make it easier for Samoans to qualify for residency in New Zealand and get skilled work.
Samoas government has asked New Zealand to rectify its failure to fill the 1100 special quota places set aside each year for Samoans to apply for residency.
Radio New Zealand reports this is mainly because Samoans whose names come up in the ballot, cant fulfil a requirement to then find a genuine job offer within six months.
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says an agreement has been reached on ways to overcome the obstacles.