De Bres seeks English test clarity

By AUDREY YOUNG

New Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres will meet Immigration Service officials today to get more details on changes to the English-language test for immigrants.

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel has said she is also happy to meet him.

The Human Rights Commission has received informal complaints about changes to the test announced last week that will make it harder to pass.

The Government insists it had been planning the changes for months.

It rejects suggestions that it was responding to the campaign by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to reduce the number of Asian immigrants.

Mr de Bres said the issue was not about the introduction of a language test because it was already in place, and was an internationally recognised test also used in Australia and Canada.

"We're going to talk through exactly what has changed and what is the impact of that," he said.

"What I'm clear on is that those people who say it is discriminatory between countries are wrong."

It was about English-language competency, not about ethnic origin.

"The longer-term question is, does it have an impact on the ethnic mix of migrants and does it by dint of circumstance weigh more heavily, for instance, on people from China than the UK," he said.

The Green Party backed the Human Rights Commission making inquiries into the test.

Immigration spokeswoman Metiria Turei said skills, not culture, should determine who became new immigrants.

"This test weighs heavily toward people who speak English as their first language," she said.

"By basing entrance on culture rather than skill, we are indulging in precisely that kind of 'social engineering' so demonised by critics of the previous immigration policy."

The Act party has launched a petition to oppose the changes.

* The Herald wants people to have their say on immigration issues. Send contributions to dialogue@nzherald.co.nz.

Herald feature: Immigration