It's time to take a breather on immigration while we fix the housing crisis and make sure our cities can cope with rapid population growth. At the same time, we need to better match immigration for regional skills shortages so businesses in places like the Bay of Plenty can get skilled workers if there genuinely aren't Kiwis to do the work.
New Zealand is a country built on immigration. New migrants make New Zealand a better place, but the fact is, after nine years the National Government hasn't made the investments we need to cope with our expanding population.
Tauranga's population, for example, is growing at 3 per cent a year, contributing to soaring house prices, growing congestion, overcrowded schools, and strained health services. Labour will invest in those areas, and ease pressure from immigration.
Labour will get the balance right.
One way we'll do this is closing an unintended immigration backdoor route. National changed the rules to allow more international students to work while studying, causing a surge in visas granted for low-level courses. Most international students say they intend to stay after finishing study to work here. It has become a first step to immigration, rather than real education.
Labour will remove the ability to work on student visas for low level courses. Providers delivering high quality courses will not be affected.
We are also going to help Kiwis into jobs by ensuring businesses are going the extra mile to look locally first. All our employment plans are about upskilling Kiwis to fill the gaps. But if there are genuine skills shortages, we will help businesses get skilled labour from offshore.
