Winston Peters
Wellington, July 21, 2017
National has been saying for years that New Zealanders returning from overseas are responsible for the surge in immigration – that is hogwash.
The latest immigration figures from Statistics New Zealand show a new record high of net 72,300, predominantly made up of arrivals by Non-New Zealand citizens.
National is relying on massive population growth from immigration to superficially grow the economy through consumption.
Their obsession with mass immigration continues to disadvantage hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who are trying to buy houses, find jobs, get hospital treatment and even access education.
New Zealand First will drastically reduce net immigration to a sensible level.
That means going from National’s ridiculous levels to well below what Labour wants (40,000 to 50,000 a year) to around 10,000.
“This is a common sense number that would still allow New Zealand’s genuine skills shortages to be met.
Many immigrants arriving are unskilled, though disguised under various immigration categories as having some sort of ‘profession.’
We should be taking in people we need and will benefit our economy and not those who need us.
Winston Peters is elected Member of Parliament from Northland and Leader of New Zealand First Party.