Migration policy is ‘unfair’

A Massey University researcher has found tightening immigration policies are problematic for Chinese New Zealanders who want to be reunited with their aging parents.

Dr Liangni Liu is researching how generations of migrant families from China are adapting to life in New Zealand.

Over the past 10 years, New Zealand’s residence programmes have been tightening and in 2016, the ‘‘parent category’’ closed until further notice.

Officials say the policy is under review.

Liu, who is a Chinese New Zealander herself, said this policy change hugely restricted migrants wanting to sponsor and reunite with their parents in New Zealand.

In Chinese culture, filial piety – respect for one’s parents and elders – is expected.

Part of this is the expectation for children to look after their aging parents. It was a ‘‘moral responsibility’’, she said.

‘‘In New Zealand, it’s different. In China, aging care is carried out in the family.’’

In fact, Chinese legislation required children to visit their parents more regularly, or potentially be sued.

Although there were rest homes in China, it was considered shameful to send a parent to one, she said.

Liu’s three-year Marsdenfunded study, Floating families? New Chinese migrants in New Zealand and their multi-generational families, looks at cultures, expectations, and policy changes.

The parent category closure was due its allocation of 4000 being filled, immigration officials confirmed.

Liu said the policy change meant many New Zealanders from a range of cultures would not be reunited.

‘‘For a migrant, it’s like a betrayal. They work in New Zealand and are taxpayers and contribute to New Zealand.’’

The policy changes meant there was a growing problem for only children who were expected to care for their aging or ill parents, while also wanting both a family and working life, she said.

The policy created two types of citizens – ‘‘first class citizens’’, who could enjoy a family life, and ‘‘second class citizens’’, who could not, she said.

Liu said New Zealand was a great place to move to and work, but she felt the policy changes were unfair for many migrant families.

Manawatu Multicultural Council manager Christine Mukabalinda said it seemed ‘‘almost impossible’’ for migrants to sponsor their parents to move to New Zealand.

But she said she understood why the Government had strict regulations.

‘‘We can’t bring the whole world here... It’s important to look after the people already here in New Zealand.’’

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment immigration policy manager Andy Jackson said migration helped strengthen the country’s economy.

But the Government’s immigration policies also took into account who would provide the most benefit to the country, and who would impose additional costs on the public health and superannuation systems, he said.

The parent category was closed to new applications, but a review would be underway this year, he said.

A parent and grandparent visitor category was available for people to spend up to six months in New Zealand at a time.

The researchers’ efforts were highlighted when World Cancer Day was marked last week.

For biophysics lecturer Elena Harjes, her work comes with special motivation.

‘‘For me, my grandmother died from cancer and I decided to become a cancer researcher.’’

Harjes was born in Russia, but had previously lived in Germany.

She said the team had to start small.

‘‘Our goal now is to get something that is effective in a petri dish.’’

Associate professor Vyacheslav Filichev is also originally from Russia, but worked in Denmark before coming to New Zealand.

Filichev said it did not matter where you were, ‘‘because the academic environment is global’’.

He said it was great to work in a team of collective expertise.

‘‘We are here in Palmerston North, but we are well connected [with the rest of the world].’’

He was aware of how important work in their field was.

‘‘Everyone knows someone affected [by cancer].’’

Their long-term goal was to create a drug.

‘‘It might take another 10, 15, 20 years, but we might get lucky.

‘‘It is a long journey, but overall we are very happy.’’

Filichev said their work would not have advanced without the grant.

‘‘In the long term, it will be of benefit for everyone.’’

Centre for Structural Biology director Geoffrey Jameson, of New Zealand, said it was great to have so much experience available within the team.

‘‘Although collaboration is international, nothing beats being able to walk down the corridor and talk to people.’’

Jameson said less than five years ago, there was no link between this enzyme and cancer.

‘‘There is an awful lot we still don’t understand about cancer.’’

He said their work would not have been able to get off the ground without the grant.

‘‘It either would not happen at all or would happen very slowly.

‘‘It is not going to be an anticancer drug per se, but it will help existing drugs work better and for longer.’’

Jameson said there was a lot of work involved with clinical trials.

However, each time they were adding to their knowledge about their work.

‘‘The long-term goal is to develop a compound – a drug that can prevent this enzyme binding to DNA and mutating it, which would stop evolution of cancerous cells and allow standard therapies to retain their effectiveness.’’