Immigration: Time to put Kiwis first

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken a tough stance on immigration. Photo/file.

When did Kiwis get so soft?

I watched with interest earlier this month when Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sparked outrage with his tough immigration stance.

I thought good on him when he made no apologies for putting Australians first.

Our Prime Minister, Bill English, called the crackdown "disappointing" because New Zealanders and others seeking Australian citizenship need to be permanent residents for four years - instead of one year -- before being eligible.

Migrants will also face a tougher citizenship test which will assess their commitment to Australia and their attitudes to religious freedom and gender equality.

Based on this, Australians appear less afraid to take a stand on issues and don't seem to mind what anyone else thinks as long as they are looking after their own.

This is commendable and refreshing instead of hiding behind the PC bandwagon and being too afraid to address controversial issues.

So when New Zealand Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said he was taking a "Kiwis-first approach to immigration" last week, it all seemed too little too late - especially with a September election looming.

Our new rules, which come into force later this year, include introducing a minimum income requirement, making it harder for family members to join visa holders, and limiting the amount of time seasonal workers can stay in the country.

Anyone entering on a prioritised "skilled" visa would need to earn $48,859 for jobs considered currently skilled, or $73,299 for positions not currently considered skilled but are well paid.

Migration and an overheated housing market look set to be major election issues. I believe the two are connected and an expert has warned record high growth in immigration numbers to New Zealand is not sustainable.

Statistics New Zealand figures reveal net gain from immigration rose to 71,932 in the year to March 31.

Massey University sociologist and immigration expert Paul Spoonley says: "We've never had such numbers before... I don't think it's sustainable; the numbers are just too high."

He maintains the suspension of the parent's category and the increase in points the Government made last year to drop numbers have not worked and "now we have the latest round of policy changes... and I don't think the Government fully understands what its implications are".

According to Statistics New Zealand, 129,500 people came here intending to stay for at least 12 months, up 5400 on March a year ago.

Some of these people are of course ex-pats. But migrants need somewhere to live, and the increased competition for homes and rising house prices has put a strain on young Kiwis and families struggling to get into their first home.

I have no problem with highly skilled workers coming to this country and understand industries such as horticulture rely heavily on seasonal overseas workers.

But I am concerned about migrants doing jobs New Zealanders can do.

It does not wash with me that Kiwis are too lazy or useless to take on these occupations and I do not think New Zealand will fall apart if immigration rules are tightened further.

It's time to toughen up.