By KEVIN TAYLOR
New research has rebutted Australian claims that lots of foreigners are using New Zealand citizenship as a "backdoor" way to migrate to Australia.
Waikato University geography professor Richard Bedford has produced figures showing that backdoor immigration to Australia from New Zealand should not be a big worry for
Canberra.
In December, Australian Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock warned Wellington to curb the number of migrants using New Zealand citizenship as a stepping-stone to Australia or risk transtasman visas.
But Professor Bedford said the figures showed New Zealand migration to Australia by people born in other countries was trivial when compared to overall Australian immigration figures.
For example, from last September to May, only 4700* New Zealanders taking up long-term residence in Australia were born in Asia. This was just 4 per cent of the total number of Asian-born migrants to Australia in the 12 months to June 2000.
And during the same two periods being compared, only 20 per cent of Pacific Island-born people migrating to Australia came via New Zealand.
"The point I'm making is that it's not exactly a big share," Professor Bedford said.
New Zealand was not a major contributor to backdoor migration to Australia.
"Under its own immigration policy, Australia brings in far, far more people. There's a tendency to over-exaggerate the importance of New Zealand's contribution."
Prime Minister Helen Clark has said migration from New Zealand means Australia is gaining skills for nothing.
* CORRECTION: In the original version of this report, we incorrectly stated this number as 1700.
Feature: Kiwis in Australia
