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9 results for "Immigration"
NZ First advocates for prioritising New Zealanders in social housing allocation, reducing immigration to ease housing pressure, supporting regional housing development, and investigating foreign property ownership restrictions.
In simple terms
Make sure New Zealanders get first access to social housing, reduce immigration to ease demand, and look at stopping foreigners from buying New Zealand homes.
Impact to New Zealanders
Construction firms lose foreign workers; building costs rise, making new homes more expensive for first-time Kiwi buyers.
Fewer immigrants means fewer workers in healthcare, hospitality, and aged care; public services slow and wait times grow for all Kiwis.
Reduced foreign investment in rental properties shrinks housing stock; social housing demand exceeds supply, locking out many eligible New Zealanders.
NZ First focuses on reducing fuel taxes, limiting immigration to ease wage competition, supporting NZ-made products, and opposing policies that increase energy costs. They also support superannuation increases tied to wages and oppose any changes to NZ Super eligibility.
In simple terms
Cut fuel taxes, limit immigration to protect wages, buy New Zealand products, and protect superannuation for older New Zealanders.
Impact to New Zealanders
Lower fuel costs boost spending on other goods, but reduced tax revenue forces cuts to roading maintenance, creating potholes that damage vehicles.
Stricter immigration limits tighten labour in healthcare and hospitality, pushing wages up there but forcing businesses to raise prices, offsetting fuel savings for many households.
Buying local-only goods raises product costs and reduces competition, while higher superannuation spending without immigration workers supporting the tax base strains government budgets for education and infrastructure.
National supports managed immigration to address skill shortages, with an emphasis on attracting high-skilled migrants. They have increased employer-assisted visas, maintained the points-based residence system, and support immigration that fills genuine gaps in the labour market.
In simple terms
Welcome skilled workers to fill job shortages, keep immigration well-managed, and make it easier for employers to bring in the workers they need.
Impact to New Zealanders
Employers in high-demand sectors (tech, healthcare, construction) reduce investment in training local workers, knowing skilled migrants are readily available.
Wage growth stalls for entry-level and mid-skill jobs as increased labour supply weakens bargaining power for workers without specialised qualifications.
New Zealand develops structural dependency on migrant workers for essential services; domestic talent pipelines atrophy, making future workforce gaps harder to fill independently.
Labour introduced the 2021 immigration reset to reduce dependence on low-wage migration, created the Green List for critical health and education workers, and introduced the Pacific Access Category reset. They support a more selective, skills-focused immigration system.
In simple terms
Focus immigration on skilled workers New Zealand really needs, make it easier for Pacific Islanders to come to NZ, and reduce reliance on low-wage overseas labour.
Impact to New Zealanders
Businesses in hospitality, agriculture, and construction face labour shortages and higher wage bills, passing costs to consumers through higher prices.
Some industries automate or relocate overseas rather than compete for skilled workers, reducing total job opportunities in regional towns outside major cities.
New Zealand's population growth slows significantly, reducing demand for housing and infrastructure but also shrinking the tax base funding healthcare and superannuation.
The Green Party supports a more compassionate immigration system with easier pathways for refugees and asylum seekers, family reunification, removing the character requirement for long-term residents, and ensuring migrant workers have full labour rights.
In simple terms
Welcome more refugees, make it easier for families to reunite in NZ, and ensure migrants have the same work rights as New Zealanders.
Impact to New Zealanders
Competition for entry-level jobs increases in cities; wages for workers without qualifications may stagnate while employers benefit from larger talent pools.
Demand for rental housing spikes in Auckland and Wellington, pushing rents higher for all renters; landlords and property owners gain, tenants lose affordability.
Skilled migrant populations stabilise in workforce; tax base grows but so do demands for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in already-strained regions.
ACT supports more open immigration for skilled workers, removing barriers to immigration that the market needs, and a merit-based system focused on economic contribution. They oppose refugee quotas and support faster processing of visas to reduce business uncertainty.
In simple terms
Open the doors to skilled workers the economy needs, process visas faster, and base immigration decisions on what's good for the New Zealand economy.
Impact to New Zealanders
Skilled workers arrive quickly, filling tech and healthcare roles; wages for these jobs stay lower than they might otherwise.
Employers become reliant on migrant workers rather than training locals; fewer young New Zealanders pursue difficult apprenticeships and qualifications.
New Zealand's workforce becomes structurally dependent on migration; local skill development atrophies, making future visa restrictions economically painful.
NZ First advocates for significantly reduced immigration levels to ease pressure on housing, infrastructure, and wages. They support prioritising New Zealand citizens for jobs, stricter visa enforcement, and a focus on migrants who genuinely contribute to regions outside of Auckland.
In simple terms
Cut immigration significantly to ease pressure on housing and wages, put New Zealanders first for jobs, and direct more migrants to regions rather than Auckland.
Impact to New Zealanders
Hospitality, construction, and aged care face immediate worker shortages, raising service costs for everyday New Zealanders while employers struggle.
Regional towns receive fewer migrants, so local businesses and schools don't grow; Auckland's housing pressure eases but regional economies stagnate.
Fewer young workers support an aging population, forcing higher taxes on fewer people or reduced public services for all New Zealanders.
Te Pāti Māori supports strong Pacific connections through immigration, recognises the Treaty relationship with all who come to Aotearoa, supports pathways for undocumented long-term residents, and a more compassionate approach to refugees and asylum seekers.
In simple terms
Make it easier for Pacific people to come to New Zealand, give long-term undocumented residents a pathway to stay, and treat refugees with compassion.
Impact to New Zealanders
Increased Pacific migration raises competition for entry-level jobs and rental housing in Auckland, putting wage pressure on existing low-income workers.
Regularising undocumented residents expands the tax base but may initially reduce wages in construction and hospitality as labour supply increases.
Larger Pacific communities strengthen cultural ties with neighbours but could create demographic shifts affecting school funding and electoral representation in some regions.
NZ First supports New Zealand workers having first access to jobs, limiting immigration to protect wages, apprenticeship programmes for young New Zealanders, and maintaining strong workplace safety standards. They have historically supported the minimum wage but oppose excessive regulation.
In simple terms
Put New Zealand workers first for jobs, limit immigration to protect wages, train more apprentices, and keep workplaces safe.
Impact to New Zealanders
Fewer migrant workers means some businesses can't fill roles, pushing up prices for everyday goods and services you buy.
Companies investing less in NZ due to worker shortages move operations overseas, reducing tax revenue funding hospitals, schools, and roads.
Aging population with fewer young workers means higher taxes on remaining workers to pay superannuation and healthcare for retirees.
