Immigration policy may return to pick and choose

By AUDREY YOUNG

Prime Minister Helen Clark is signalling constant changes ahead in immigration policy to transform New Zealand from a country which accepts allcomers who qualify back to one that picks and chooses.

She said that in many ways, New Zealand was "coming almost full circle back to the sort of approach before 1991".

"The conceptual shift is from the passive acceptance of those who meet a points threshold to targeted recruitment to meet New Zealand's skills deficit."

But she is suggesting that the changes will be on-going rather than sudden.

The Government is sensitive to suggestions of sudden changes because it often causes a sudden increase in applicants, creating instant backlogs.

The pre-1991 system was based around occupational priority and skills shortage. Applicants under the points system post-1991 are approved automatically if they gain a passmark, at present 30.

Only part of the points system, worth five marks, is dependent on whether they have a job offer relevant to their qualifications.

Helen Clark said at present only 68 per cent of immigrants who qualified under the skills/business category went straight into a job.

She thought it should be closer to "damned near 100 per cent".

A litany of problems has been identified in immigration policy lately, including:

* Approvals for residency in excess of the stated targets of 45,000.

* Applicants using fraudulent English language certificates and job offers.

* Lack of active investment by immigrants gaining residence as investors.

* Wealthy parents gaining citizenship under investor category and leaving students here.

* Disproportionate number of Chinese students in tertiary institutions.

* Dissatisfaction with quality of homestays for fee-paying Chinese students.

Helen Clark said there was always room to improve.

"You can take it that the policy and its shortcomings, inherited, are under continual review."

But having acknowledged problems, she would not concede that they were in the same category as those raised by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

"Winston Peters has followed elections in other countries where the whipping up of xenophobia against newcomers will attract a certain portion of the population."

She believed his three-point gain in preferred Prime Minister's poll (One News-Colmar Brunton) at the expense of National leader Bill English was partly due to short-term factors.

The poll had been "taken off the back of a tirade at a party conference at the weekend immediately before", Helen Clark said.

According to the same poll:

* 49 per cent believe Mr Peters is simply reflecting the views of New Zealand.

* 71 per cent of New Zealanders believe Mr Peters' views on immigration increase tension and division.

* 61 per cent believe that Asian migration is good for the country.

* 27 per cent believe the Government should stop further Asian migration to New Zealand.

* 41 per cent believe more Asian migration should be encouraged.

The poll of 1000 eligible voters was conducted between November 11 and 14. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 per cent.

Further reading
Feature: Immigration