16th September 2001

"The Government's new immigration policy announced today, on Sunday of all days, shows all the hall marks of the same old mess", says New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

"Now the Government is going to bring in 50,000 immigrants per year, including 4000 who would appear to be here with refugee status. How that 4000 per annum fits into the 750 refugees we have agreed with the United Nations to take will be beyond most observers".

This is not a new policy at all but an ad hoc regurgitation of failed immigration policies that Labour and National have pursued for years, at no advantage to the New Zealand economy.

"This number in real terms is 5 times that which Australia is taking in per annum and there is no rationale behind it. Sound immigration policy should be based on the rapid expansion of our exports and an increase in our intellectual wealth. That is not what is going to happen here as it has not happened in the last 12 years, where at times well over 40% of all new immigrants are not placed in the economy, but rather become another cost to the New Zealand taxpayer."

"The overwhelming majority will go to Auckland and the rest of New Zealand will be asked to pay for all sorts of infrastructural costs to accommodate them", said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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