NZ First leader Winston Peters says the restaurant signs on Auckland's Dominion Rd are an eyesore, and show evidence the Government's immigration rules don't work and the council's advertising rules need an overhaul.
Mr Peters said many of the restaurants' advertising signs were not in English, indicating English language requirementsto enter New Zealand were useless.
"You've got to wonder what's going on with our immigration programme when you have so many ethnic restaurants down Dominion Rd. If the advertisements are all in a foreign language, tell me what's happened to the English language test? Clearly they haven't required it to be met."
He said he was referring to a Massey University study reported in the Herald this week which found many signs in places including Dominion Rd, Northcote, the central city, Meadowlands and Papatoetoe were in languages other than English. That made new migrants feel comfortable but many local residents uncomfortable.
Mr Peters said he was not criticising immigrants, but he agreed with Auckland Chinese Community Centre chairman Arthur Loo, who said the signs should also be translated into English.
"Ethnic restaurants ... add to the fabric of New Zealand. It makes it a lot more interesting place to dine and eat. As far as I'm concerned, the more the merrier."
