Media Release

30 September 2002

Government Admits Immigration Failure Claims Peters

The Government is admitting the immigration “explosion” is out of control by continually tightening the rules, New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters said today.

For the second time this month the Government is lifting the benchmark for immigrants to qualify as New Zealand residents. From Monday those applying for residency under the general skills category will require 30 points instead of the 29 points set on September 9.

Mr Peters said the system was being flooded with immigrants and the fact that 75,000 applications were expected this year showed that New Zealand was regarded overseas as a “soft touch”.

“When New Zealand First raised the issue of excessive numbers of immigrants during the election campaign, we were accused of being racist. Now, this hypocritical Government has admitted that it cannot cope with the flood and has raised the number of points needed for residence.”

Mr Peters said that tinkering with a points system would not solve the immigration problem and that New Zealanders wanted a dramatic reduction in numbers.

“Excessive immigration is a social and economic disaster, which New Zealanders will go on paying for forever,” he said.

ENDS

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