Aged care nurses, teachers and builders are among the occupations added to the updated skills shortage list, which has been regionalised.
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said on Wednesday the lists were intended to build thriving and sustainable regions.
Under the Essential Skills in Demand programme, the Immediate Skills Shortage List had been changed to the Regional Skill Shortage Lists.
Lees-Galloway made assurances that no occupations had been removed from the lists completely.
Employers who want to bring in migrant workers for occupations not listed can still do so, as long as they can demonstrate there are no New Zealanders available to do the job.
Lees-Galloway said the changes were the first step in the Government's plan to streamline and regionalise the skills-based visa system.
It required industries that benefited to invest in and provide opportunities for Kiwi workers, he said.
The teacher shortage was addressed by the addition of early childhood, primary and secondary school teachers to all regions on the Regional Skill Shortage List.
Aged Care nurses have been added to the Long Term Skill Shortage List, while Building Associates have been added to the Construction Skills Shortage list.
"These proposals simplify the number of different visa options, respond to sectoral or regional differences in the labour market, and align the immigration system with the education, skills and welfare systems," Lees-Galloway said.
New Zealand First Immigration spokesperson Clayton Mitchell said the refinement to make skills shortage lists more regionalised was the first step in addressing the immigration woes and would encourage the regional dispersion of immigrants to places other than Auckland and the main centres.
"The Government plans to simplify the number of different visa options and ensure that businesses that benefit from the skilled-based visa system are providing opportunities for Kiwi workers."
New Zealand First was determined to get the immigration settings correct, he said.
"We are ensuring that we employ and train New Zealanders wherever possible, as well as supporting sensible options like the Recognised Seasonal Employer programme for where there is a genuine and short-term shortage of workers."
There are 172 occupations on the skills shortage lists and the number of regions had been expanded from six to 15.
Fourteen occupations were reviewed this year from 50 that were nominated.
Submissions were sought from industry groups and interested parties about the nature and extent of skill shortages in the occupations selected for review
Immigration New Zealand followed-up with submitters, consulted with government agencies and industry, and collated any additional data needed to inform decisions on changes to the lists.
The revised lists will come into effect in this month.