An unprecedented number of people leaving New Zealand has got me thinking about what are the causes of this exodus.
I welcome all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. I only ask that they understand that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is here to stay and respect the fact that there is a process of reconciliation going on between Maori and non-Maori.
The immigration problem in this country is not the fault of immigrants. It is largely the fault of successive Governments refusing to take a long term approach. The Government has not viewed addressing the immigration issue as a long term investment in this country and as a result, they have not put money and resources where their mouth is. It has been like this since before the 21st Century started
However, it is in part the fault of us as citizens too. We like to display a friendly facade outwardly, but all too often I hear snide or derogatory comments about those not from European nations – “Maori sit on the dole and whine about no income” or similar; “too many Asians living here – they take our jobs and buy our houses”. And yet, we vote for parties promoting the policies that have enabled unsustainable immigration; the neoliberal market economics that have enabled a very few to do very well and leave 85% of the country’s population a long way behind. We have to own this.
Ultimately, we do have an unsustainable rate of people coming here which puts undue pressure on our construction sector to provide more and adequate housing. New Zealand needs to reduce inflows to no more than probably 30-35,000 per annum and put restrictions on property ownership. These, though are only things New Zealanders who are eligible to vote can work on – it is not for the prospective migrant to worry about.
New Zealand needs to reform how it manages immigration. It needs more immigration officers and a more pragmatic approach with regards to whom we let in and for how long; changes to how we enable residency and citizenship for those who go the extra distance. And they need to happen soon – in the next couple of years. My plan looks similar to this:
- Right now the oldest applications for citizenship in N.Z. are 12 months – ideally this time should be cut by half, preferably 2/3
- An urgent citizenship process established for those with a pressing need
- A registry of all immigration consultants and a requirement that all be registered with the Department of Internal Affairs
But this needs to be part of a much broader approach to this country. As long as we fail to tackle other matters such as the cost of living, housing and justice, immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees are going to continue to get a cool/cold reception from a far broader part of the societal spectrum than otherwise likely. It will be due to no fault of their own but disgruntled New Zealanders at the pub on Friday nights, and those who haven’t been, or allowed themselves to be, exposed to our outstandingly diverse communities trying to find a scapegoat for our political choices.
Are New Zealanders willing though?
Leftist Kiwi Writes 