30 June 2006

Immigration: Make Sure The
‘Open Door’ Is Closed

New Zealand First associate immigration spokesperson Peter Brown is warning the Government that any increase in the immigrant intake level must be to fill legitimate gaps in the labour market, not simply as a means to meet quota numbers or to try and artificially boost the economy.

Mr Brown is responding to the Minister of Immigration’s announcement today to increase the number of migrants.

“New Zealand First does accept, where shortages in the labour market exist, we need to bring in skilled migrants. However, we cannot return to the days of ‘open-door’ mass migration.

“We must be assured that we are addressing the skills shortage appropriately and we are not doing so at the expense of training New Zealanders,” concluded Mr Brown.

ENDS

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