Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
6 SEPTEMBER 2016

Latta Not Biting the Government Hand That Feeds Him

Celebrity psychologist Nigel Latta’s latest pro-National documentary is not surprising when he and his production company have received millions of dollars of government money, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Since 2008 production companies have received more than $7 million from the taxpayer to produce Mr Latta’s shows.

“But judging by Mr Latta’s comments in a column about tonight’s show on TV One on immigration there is a lack of professional standards as far as the information goes. It’s also clear from this show he is firmly in the National Party’s camp.

“Mr Latta claims the level of immigrants coming to New Zealand has been stable for the last 10 years and people are not flooding in.

“That’s odd considering last month Statistics New Zealand said New Zealand’s population grew by 97,000 in the year ended June 2016 – the largest increase ever – and that it was driven by record levels of international migration.

“Net migration was 69,100 over the year to June 2016. In other words, we’re creating a city the size of New Plymouth every year.

“But, according to Mr Latta, it’s stable because fewer Kiwis are leaving and more are returning even though statistics show three of every four making up the population increase are non-New Zealanders.

“Mr Latta says the country relies on immigration for skilled people to drive our economy. However, most immigrants are working in low-skilled and low paid occupations, keeping Kiwis out of jobs and making it easier for employers to keep pay rates at rock bottom.

“Mr Latta states also ‘we need migrants to come and help build all of the houses we need’. New Zealand First questions why isn’t the National government training some of the 131,000 people who are unemployed, or the 70,000 young people aged 15 – 24 who are not in education, employment or training?

“Mr Latta has given up on ordinary New Zealanders and is so biased he sounds like a mouthpiece from National’s communications unit. He should stick to focusing on people’s minds, not immigration.

“New Zealand First has never been opposed to immigration but we want controlled immigration that the country can sustain of between 10,000 and 15,000 each year,”

“And we need more unbiased opinions than those being dished up by Mr Latta courtesy of the taxpayer,” Mr Peters says.

ENDS

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