What the parties say about immigration

LABOUR


Will review business investor categories and general skills category to ensure points system responds to NZ labour market needs. Will also review regional immigration pilots in Wellington and Southland/Clutha. Established talent visa to streamline approvals for employers. Residency approved for 53,000 in last year. Net migration loss turned to 31,000 gain.

NATIONAL


Will review points system to achieve greater flexibility for people with skills outside the present criteria, review the criteria for the investor category, give work permits to overseas students who graduate from a NZ educational institution, make it easier for partners of returning New Zealanders to work. Mandatory HIV and Aids tests for all migrants and refugees.

GREENS


Oppose immigration based on big bank accounts. Support relaxing rules for reunification of families, criteria to maintain country's skills, special consideration for South Pacific countries, full appeal rights with legal aid for asylum seekers.

ACT


Will aim for net inflows of 30,000 to 40,000 a year, adopt policies that welcome immigrants, especially entrepreneurs, no easy access to welfare.

NZ FIRST


Cut immigration approval to 10,000 a year; increase penalties for breaches of immigration laws; three-year probation for immigrants during which law-breakers will be deported; pre-arrival health screening including HIV.

PROGRESSIVE COALITION


Will assist regional development with targeted immigration, promote better integration between qualifications for migration and accepted practice in New Zealand, support measures to protect immigrants from bigotry, produce a draft population policy for debate in an attempt to minimise political division.

ALLIANCE


Wants immigration policy to balance social and economic needs with need for sustainable development. Will shift immigration from Department of Labour to dedicated agency in Internal Affairs, ensure immigration is based on accurate data within a population policy and complements economic policy.

UNITED FUTURE


Develop 10-year population policy, set minimum of 60,000 annual approvals to aim at 10,000 net gain, replace discriminatory English language test with test specified by the immigrant's employer, encourage more foreign students to stay to work permanently in New Zealand.

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