Peters wants migrant flying squad

Winston Peters, pictured at Orewa yesterday, pledged to curb the powers of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority. Picture / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand First wants to make it tougher for migrants and refugees to bring extended family members to live here, under its immigration policy launched in Orewa yesterday.

It would also establish an Immigration Inspectorate - an independent watchdog to monitor the Immigration Service and operate a "flying squad" to investigate immigrant crime and fraud.

The party also advocates a public debate leading to the forging of a "comprehensive population policy" which looks 25 years ahead and identifies the migrants the public wants and the economy needs.

NZ First leader Winston Peters continued not to pledge to reduce the immigration quota, now 45,000 a year, by a particular amount.

However, after the speech he again floated 10,000 - which he said was a per capita comparison to Australia - as a potential quota figure, but said proper research was needed before required levels could be set.

While he said in his speech that the country was "flooded" with immigrants and mentioned Asian immigration in particular, it was a minor focus of the speech, billed as being not about problems but about solutions.

These involved cutting down on "unproductive" migrants, increasing border security and improving the Immigration Service.

Results of a Herald-DigiPoll survey out yesterday appear to confirm discomfort with several aspects of immigration policy, particularly around border security.

There is, however, support for current immigration levels.

Mr Peters outlined a five-point plan which included the population policy and the inspectorate.

The third point involved legislative changes such as the creation of an "undesirables" category to ensure that those from "dangerous and unethical regimes are red-flagged before they get here".

He promised DNA testing where family relationship status was unclear, and pledged to curb the powers of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority.

Immigration Minister Paul Swain said yesterday DNA tests were already done and policy for a new "undesirable" category against which prospective migrants would be checked was set to be signed off.

The Government also signalled it may sideline or disband the appeals authority when announcing this week a wide-ranging review of the Immigration Act.

It has also moved to clean up the immigration consultants industry, another of Mr Peters' targets.

Mr Peters said NZ First would limit refugee family reunification to spouses, children and siblings.

Migrants wanting to bring family members here would have to have higher English language standards, and would have to have a job or proof of an income.

The party believes grandparents who don't have portable superannuation from their home country, for example, should not be allowed to get welfare here.

But Mr Swain said because there were so many people applying for family reunification places, existing priorities meant only spouses and children were generally accepted.