KEY POINTS:
Winston Peters' apparent distaste for Asian immigration does not extend to Singaporean jockeys, who he says are usefully "born light".
The NZ First leader believes that immigrants can be used to solve New Zealand's jockey shortage.
He has even agreed to help Vickneswaran "Victor" Marigapan's fight to stay
in the country.
Mr Peters said Singaporean jockeys would not be part of his proposed cuts to immigration numbers because they filled a "known, proven niche".
"It would be obvious as well that they are born light, that's why you'll find more of them the same way," he told a group of horse trainers yesterday.
Mr Peters subsequently criticised National Party immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith for his "extraordinary" comments that Asian seasonal workers were more productive at pruning because of their smaller hands.
Mr Peters said talking about Asian jockeys being "born light" was not the same.
"I don't know what Lockwood's dribbling on about. One is picking fruit and the other is an industry where to ride a horse you've got to be under a certain weight."
Mr Peters was asked how his anti-immigration stance fitted with the jockey shortage by trainer Kevin Gray during a meeting with the Awapuni Trainers Association in Palmerston North.
Mr Gray said he had employed Mr Marigapan for five years, originally as an apprentice jockey. Mr Marigapan had just given up riding to become his leading hand and despite an impeccable work ethic "they [Immigration NZ] want to send him home".
Mr Gray said jockeys from Singapore were "good lads" and useful for filling the shortage, "but we have a hell of a time getting them here or keeping them here".
Mr Peters said his latest comments about immigration, which unlike in previous elections did not specifically target Asians, were not about people like Mr Marigapan who had a job, but "people coming here and going on the benefit".
Mr Peters wants immigration cut from 50,000 a year to 10,000 to protect New Zealanders from the economic crisis.
Mr Gray said Mr Peters had agreed to help Mr Marigapan to get permanent residence.
"Winston said, 'He should stay here - get him permanent residence, he's been here, he's got a job, he's been in the workforce'."
Mr Gray said there was a shortage because New Zealand jockeys were too big "and if we didn't have the girls we'd be in the cart".
Mr Peters, who remains suspended as Racing Minister until after the election because of the NZ First donations controversy, said the solution to the shortage lay in immigration.
