If the news of Donald Trump's election and its rippling effect on free trade and the free flow of people across international borders was not enough to send shock waves around the world, then here comes the emerging news on another round of changes in the New Zealand immigration system.
This is completely unrelated to the news of increased interest from the American residents in migrating to New Zealand immediately after Donald Trump's surprise election victory.
Data from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) showed on Friday, November 11, that about 55000 Americans visited the INZ website in the 24 hours after the election, which is roughly 20 times the number who typically registered on the site.
INZ typically receives about 3000 registrations each month via the New Zealand.
Completely unrelated to this latest global event, the immigration New Zealand has been quietly going through a "second review" of the skilled migrant category.
The first review of the skilled migrant category by the current National's government resulted in a dramatic culling of the quota of skilled migrants by 5000 last month.
Any news of another impending "review" in the skilled migrant category has a potential to send shivers to many "new" migrant source destination like India and China.
Since the beginning of 21st century, India and China have emerged as the major migrant sending destination to the English speaking countries of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Predominantly, the migrants from these "new" migrant source destination rely on the "skilled migrant category" visas to enter the targeted country.
Apparently, it is being suggested that there is a strong demand for New Zealand's residency and it is projected to increase further in the foreseeable future and the New Zealand's immigration system needs to align itself in a manner to be able to meet the demands and expectations of New Zealand's economy.
It is reported that Immigration New Zealand has started the second review of the skilled migrant category, amid fears the points system does not prioritise the "highest value" workers.
There is a latent belief within the Immigration New Zealand and other stakeholders that the current system which is unchanged since it started in 2003 is structurally biased against the "high skilled value" immigrants.
To what extent would this impending change filter the prospective immigrants within the "low value" and "high value" workforce for the New Zealand economy remains to be seen.
However, this emerging news will add to the already prevailing apprehension towards the liberal global order which has facilitated a comparatively easier large movement of people across international borders than any other times in international history.
From New Zealand's perspective, given the current record low level of unemployment, any reduction in immigration is going to be counter-productive for the healthy growth of the economy.
Even any disruption in the existing system which gives a pathway to the international students educated in New Zealand to the skilled migrant category residency could be detrimental to prospects for long-term economic growth.