Candidates clash over hot election issue

National Party’s Alfred Ngaro says now is not the time to slash immigration but NZ First’s David Wilson thinks otherwise.

The two Te Atatu candidates had very different views on New Zealand’s immigration issue.

Ngaro, whose parents were immigrants from the Cook Islands, said New Zealand continued to be regarded internationally as a great place to live, work and raise a family. He said west Auckland reflected the very best of New Zealand, where his family and many other migrants continued to settle. Ngaro said his party recognised the contributions of migrants to New Zealand’s economy.

‘‘These things makes New Zealand an even better place to live providing opportunities and creating jobs for all New Zealanders, and growing our economy,’’ he said.

‘‘That’s why we continue to be focussed on ensuring that highly skilled and talented individuals are prioritised for work visas, and that the quality of inward migration supports our economy and labour market.’’

Ngaro said it wasn’t the time to undermine the export industry and economy by slashing immigration.

Wilson said Auckland’s population had tripled in his lifetime and it was mainly fueled by immigration.

‘‘Auckland has always had an infrastructure deficit as it has grown. This was exacerbated by Labour’s neo-liberal ‘leave it to the market’ policies in the 80s which allowed National to deepen the deficit in the 90s. We have been playing catch-up ever since,’’Wilson said.

He said mass immigration and a private-debt fuelled housing market meant New Zealand kids couldn’t afford to live in Auckland.

‘‘NZ First policy is to reduce mass immigration to a manageable level, and train New Zealanders to fill skills gaps.’’

Other candidates did not reply by the deadline given for this article.