ELIGIBLE people from Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Tonga will be able to register their interest in becoming a resident of New Zealand during May.

Registrations for the 2010 Samoa Quota (SQ) and Pacific Access Category (PAC) ballots will be open from 1 to 31 May.

The Samoan Quota Scheme allows up to 1100 Samoan citizens to be granted residence in New Zealand each year.

The Pacific Access Category (PAC) allows up to 75 citizens of Kiribati, 75 citizens of Tuvalu and 250 citizens of Tonga to be granted residence in New Zealand every year.

Head of Immigration New Zealand, Nigel Bickle, says that the policies recognise the special relationship between New Zealand and the Pacific.

To register under the SQ or the PAC, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a citizen of Samoa or any of the PAC countries;
- Have been born in Samoa or one of the PAC countries, or have been born overseas to a Samoan or PAC country citizen;
- Register for the ballot within the official registration period from 1-31 May 2010;
- Be aged between 18 and 45 when the application is lodged.

The annual ballot for these quota will be held in July. Successful applicants will then be invited to apply for residence. The principal applicant must also have a job offer from a New Zealand employer.

To register for the ballot, applicants need to complete a ballot registration form available from an Immigration New Zealand branch; or downloaded from the INZ website at www.immigration.govt.nz [2]

Registrations must be received by Immigration New Zealand by 31 May or they will not be accepted. Department of Labour, 10/03/10.