To enter under the parent category, a person must prove they or the child sponsoring them to come to New Zealand has enough income to support them financially. Last year, 5739 people were given residency under the parent category. Mr Woodhouse expected the pause to be temporary and hoped to review and reopen the parent category in the middle of next year. "The parent category is most used by immigrants from China so they will be the ones largely affected by the reduction,'' he said. China is the largest source country for family-sponsored migrants and made up 50% of residence approvals in the parent category.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 11, 2016 20:26 UTC