United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, said today he supports the amnesty for overstayers announced yesterday by Hon Lianne Dalziel, Minister of Immigration.

"It will ensure some certainty for well settled overstayers who have been making a positive contribution to New Zealand and that must be welcomed . The amnesty will also target those overstayers who are genuinely abusing the system.

"My only concern is the lack of an overall population and immigration strategy. For many years now immigration policy has tended to operate on an ad-hoc basis without planning a sensible, comprehensive strategy which recognises and anticipates New Zealand's social, economic and cultural needs.

"We have squandered the opportunity as a country for a co-ordinated immigration and migration settlement strategy which will support and enhance our economic and cultural development. United is committed to seeing such an approach to immigration policy.

"So yesterday's announcement while sending out positive signals to potential New Zealand residents could be significantly more effective if part of a wider strategy," concludes Mr Dunne.

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