High immigration ‘not sustainable’

Business owners fear proposals to reduce number of visitors will hurt their livelihood

Record high growth in immigration numbers to New Zealand is not sustainable, an expert is warning. But angry business owners say changes to policy aimed at keeping migrant workers out could cripple their businesses.

The number of people arriving in New Zealand on a long term and permanent basis is continuing to grow, setting net migration at a new record high.

Figures released by Statistics New Zealand revealed net gain from immigration rose to 71,932 in the year to March 31.

Massey University sociologist and immigration expert Paul Spoonley said: “We’ve never had such numbers before . . . I don’t think it’s sustainable, the numbers are just too high.”

Despite the number leaving New Zealand to live overseas slowly rising, the number coming continues to climb resulting with a net gain of 6100 for the month of March alone.

Spoonley said “anxiety levels” had also gone up as a result of the high migration numbers, and that an “informed debate” was needed.

“I thought last year when the Government made those adjustments — suspension of the parents category and the increase in points — would see numbers drop, but that hasn’t happened,” Spoonley said.

“Now we have the latest round of policy changes . . . and I don’t think the Government fully understands what its implications are.”

According to Statistics New Zealand, 129,500 people came here intending to stay for at least 12 months, up 5400 on March a year ago.

Even with a drop of 9400, the largest number of arrivals still came from Australia, on 25,557.

This was followed by about 15,000 from the United Kingdom, 12,358 from China and 9547 from India.

The figures are based on arrivals card details and did not provide details of citizenship.