Labour's migration plans for Bay of Plenty

Labour immigration spokesman Iain Less-Galloway, Tauranga candidate Jan Tinetti, Bay of Plenty candidate Angie Warren-Clark, and Waiariki candidate Tamati Coffey. Photo/Andrew Warner

Skills shortages in the Bay of Plenty could be identified and filled by migrants matched to fill the gaps, Labour's immigration spokesman says.

Iain Lees-Galloway visited the region this week and discussed his party's immigration policy - particularly its plan to make skills shortage lists more focused on the regions.

Mr Lees-Galloway said there were regions in New Zealand starved of workers while more than half of new migrants to New Zealand stayed in Auckland.

"We want to see the amount of migration into Auckland reduce. We have an infrastructure crisis in Auckland. There aren't enough houses."

Mr Lees-Galloway said Tauranga, for example, could reap the benefits by finding people to fill gaps in the construction sector.

For every skilled migrant worker brought on board by a New Zealand employer, it would need to be matched with a New Zealand apprentice, Mr Lees-Galloway said.

"Right now we don't have those people to fill those roles [so we need migrants for those jobs] ... but we will have those people down the track."

Despite his vision of regionalised migrant work, he said measures still needed to be put in place to better prevent migrant workers from being exploited. This week the Government released a damning report on Bay of Plenty kiwifruit contractors.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said the Government already had a regional focus with the Immediate Skills Shortage and Canterbury Skills Shortage lists. However, these lists did not include every New Zealand region.

"Bay of Plenty businesses have more cause for concern with Labour's immigration policy which would arbitrarily cut immigration by tens of thousands, making it even harder for regions to fill labour shortages."

Mr Lees-Galloway said some operators took advantage of migrants because they felt they could get away with it. If Labour was successful in the election, he planned to double the number of inspectors to better enforce the rules.

Yesterday, the Maori Party announced its Community Internship Scheme, which would see migrants work for two years as builders, doctors, beekeepers, plumbers or in other skilled work, depending on their qualifications or the needs of regions.

The regions targeted would be identified as "Economic Hotspots" - areas experiencing an economic, population or income decline.

The internship would be unpaid, but the migrant would receive government help getting the licensing and training necessary to work in New Zealand. The local community would provide accommodation and meals. It would also contribute to the current visa points system for residency.