Migrants key to regional growth

Migrants are the key to growth of the Hutt Valley and Wellington region and more needs to be done to attract them, says leading New Zealand immigration consultant June Ranson, Managing Director of Lower Hutt company Woburn International.

“We must get out and show the world that New Zealand is an attractive option for people with the right skills, including entrepreneurs with great ideas,” she says.

“New Zealand is a country where small businesses are the life blood of our economy and our NZ immigration policies need to focus more on this aspect.

“Little thought appears to have been given to the fact that some 69 per cent of
owners of small to medium-sized businesses will be looking for buyers to take over their businesses in the next 10 years as the New Zealand population ages.

“Migrants provide new skills to encourage business expansion into new products and markets.

“We are competing with Australia and Canada for these skills and need to be very active in encouraging them to come to New Zealand. This includes enticing New Zealand expats home.

“The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research has also found that adding 40,000 migrants a year to New Zealand’s population for 10 years would grow our

GDP per capita by $410 a year.

“That shows new migrants make a positive impact on our country and suggests the
current migrant policy is set too low.”

June Ranson says concerns about the cost of new infrastructure to support a growing population boosted by immigration are not supported by the research.

“The Wellington region would benefit significantly by welcoming new migrants.

“We have everything here including jobs across a wide range of skills with the added incentive of being a safe place for families to live and enjoy our healthy, outdoor lifestyle.”

“New migrants are an asset and should be encouraged to settle in the Hutt Valley and broader Wellington region,” she says.

June Ranson is the vice – chair to the NZ Association for Migration and Investment and the Managing Director of Woburn International a Global Mobility Services company, based in Lower Hutt.

ENDS

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