PM John Key Says: No Changes to the New Zealand Immigration

PM John Key said that the immigration policy will not change to deal the housing crisis.

160,000 people entered New Zealand in past three years. Grant Spencer, the Reserve Bank deputy governor said that this cannot be ignored. New Zealand immigration policy needs to be reviewed in his opinion.

If such a large number of people are moving to the country, then the government should ensure that they are eligible and skilled people.

But PM said that the people entering the country as a result of New Zealand immigration applied under categories that have no room for change.

He further added that the government does not want to stop New Zealanders or Australians to buy homes but at the same time, the government cannot stop foreign students as they play a vital role in strengthening the economy of the country.

The other visa categories are not going to make any huge difference since the ones having New Zealand immigration on temporary visas are not big home buyers.

New Zealand First accused the Reserve Bank to be racist on blaming immigration as the cause of housing crisis.

The party’s leader Winston Peters said that when I used to point out the same problem, other political parties, and the media accused us to be racist and xenophobic but Reserve Bank’s comments showed that people have now realized immigration to be a problem.

Peters demanded an answer on the same comments by the Reserve Bank.

The government has been regularly fine-tuning the immigration policies, said Steven Joyce – the Economic Development Minister.

He said that Spencer pointed that a large number of people entering the country are actually Kiwis who return home and stay here. But there is nothing much that can be done against it.

Joyce seconds his opinion and said that he is right. There is actually nothing that can be done to avoid it.

Spencer only demanded to review the skill mix and the government keeps on doing that all year long.

But Grant Robertson, the Labor Party finance spokesperson said that the government needs to do something.