'Wrong' immigrants favoured

By WARREN GAMBLE

New Zealand's immigration system is producing a line of middle class "spoiled kids" who often had a short-term commitment to the country, former immigration minister Aussie Malcolm says.

Mr Malcolm said the points system was poorly designed, inflexible and had no room for people such as prominent sports achievers, artists and even tradespeople who did not have "recognised" qualifications.

The system was introduced in 1991 under National's Bill Birch. He said it was designed as a more open, merit-based approach to immigration.

Under it applicants have to gain a pass mark, currently 24. They win points for qualifications, age, work experience and ability to settle.

But Mr Malcolm, National immigration minister from 1980-84 and now an immigration consultant, said the points weighting for tertiary degrees, young people and a stable work career created a decidedly middle class target market.

"I don't think a bunch of young people wearing designer jeans with cellphones clamped to their ears, driving BMWs, reading Time magazine - I don't think that's the profile of the sort of person who is going to build this country," he said.

Mr Malcolm said high mobility was a feature of the urban middle class, and it was likely many would move on after a few years.

"The most successful migrants historically have been the battlers - working class people who got stuck in and worked their way up."

He advocated the return to a more interventionist immigration policy where the minister had more flexibility in decision-making.

The immigrants - a Herald series

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