UPDATED 3.18PM The Labour Party wants a reduction in the number of immigrants allowed into New Zealand.

Leader Andrew Little has made the comment, saying the skilled migrant clause is bringing in too many people, such as Indian chefs, when they could be found here.

"Times when our economy is creaking we need to be able to turn the tap down a bit, just while we get our own house in order, before we open the tap again."

Labour leader Andrew Little says it's not about playing the race card, and he's not against immigration in general.

"But there are times also when our country is going through growing pains, or in our case slowing pains, and it is right to say 'Let's turn the tap down a bit'".

However that's been scoffed at by the Prime Minister, who said Mr Little seems to be all over the place at the moment.

"I just don't know where he's coming up with this stuff. One minute they say they didn't want people with Chinese-sounding names buying houses and now they don''t want people with Chinese-sounding names making chicken chop suey. Honestly, we're a country based on migration. We welcome people in, they do a good job, they work hard".