More than 1000 places in one of New Zealand's international humanitarian categories have gone unfilled for the sixth year running.
22,000 applications for the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category were received last year for 1650 places in the two ballots.
But government figures show that even those who get a place can't be certain of taking it up.
Over the past six years, more than 1400 people have not been able to take up places they won, because they did not get a job.
The Samoan Quota has not been filled since 2009 and the Pacific Access Category quota has been filled only twice in seven years.
Applications for this year open this month.