New Zealand’s new PM decries ‘open floodgates’ immigration policy after migrant upsurge
New Zealand’s new PM decries ‘open floodgates’ immigration policy after migrant upsurge
The net annual immigration gain of 118,835 people in the year through September “doesn’t feel sustainable for New Zealand at all”, Luxon told Radio New Zealand on Monday in Wellington. “We understand that there is a little bit of catch up that has been needed to fill some shortages that have existed since the lockdown periods. We expect that to be slowing month on month.”
New Zealand’s population rose 2.7 per cent in the year to September, its biggest jump in more than 30 years, as immigrant numbers surged. The Reserve Bank last month surprised markets by signalling a greater risk of a rate increase next year, citing concern that the flood of new arrivals is pushing up rents and house prices, and may fan inflation.
Luxon didn’t provide any target for annual immigration, noting that New Zealanders and Australians are free to come and go, which makes it hard for governments to set exact numbers.
He said the key is to link immigration policy to worker shortages and the government’s broader economic agenda. At the same time, the government has to manage the infrastructure that’s needed to support that population growth, he said.
Australia plans to halve migrant intake, tighten student visa rules
Australia plans to halve migrant intake, tighten student visa rules
“It was really complete and utter open floodgates,” he said. “We have to make sure that we are getting the settings right. They’ve gone from being way too restrictive to being way too loose. We’ve got to find that balance and that’s the work we are going to get into in the next few months.”
