New Zealand

More Kiwis moving to Australia; more migrant inflows to NZ

Statistics New Zealand released a report showing that the net outflow of New Zealanders who moved to Australia rose to 3,100 in March from 2,800 in the same period last year.  It is also reported that in the year that ended in March, over 100 New Zealanders moved to Australia every day.  New Zealanders who settled in Australia reached 38,738, but when the number of those who returned home is considered, the net outflow is 30,219.

Meanwhile, migrant inflow in New Zealand in March reached 490 people, an increase from 240 in February.  Though the net inflow has recovered, it is not even half the long-run average rate. Long term migrants in the country reached 4,678 by the end of the year in March, a drop from 12,081 migrants gained the year before.  The net loss of migrants to Australia was about 29,000, up by 28 percent from the previous year, but was offset by 39,800 migrants gained from several countries.  Economist Shamubeel Eaqub, however, said the gain remains only at a “soft level.”

Asians blending into NZ

According to a study, more Asians are now settling in places where they can blend in with the New Zealand community.  The report entitled, “Diverse Auckland: The Face of new Zealand in the 21^st Century,” shows that China-born immigrants are moving into North Shore, while Koreans are moving into Waitakere City, East Tamaki and Auckland CBD.  Indians are moving into wealthier places such as Howick and East Tamaki.  The report also mentioned that the Asian population in Auckland may increase to 51 percent by 2016, and most will claim to have European, Maori and Pacific identities, among others.

Chinese nurses may improve NZ’s health system

New Zealand’s free trade agreement with China could draw in Chinese nurses and bring a solution to the nurse shortage in the country.  According to experts interviewed by the Herald, Chinese nurses may bring benefits to New Zealand’s health system, filling in all nurse vacancies at several district health boards.  As of 31 March, there were 44,571 nurses in the country, and of the total, 20 percent were foreign-trained.

NZ First leader proposes to ban Asian immigration

New Zealand First deputy leader Peter Brown said in a statement early April that New Zealand should ban Asian immigration to prevent the country from being inundated with people who have no intention of integrating into society.  The statement came amid a recent release of figures showing that the Asian population in the country will most likely grow by 3.4 percent a year until 2026. According to government statistician Geoff Bascand, the overall population is projected to rise to 5.5 million from 4.2 million in the next 18 years. It is projected that 14 percent of the total will have Asian ethnicity by 2026, considering that the Asian population grew to 790,000 from 400,000 in 2006.  Of the main ethnic groups, the Asians will grow the fastest and may surpass the population of groups like the Maori.  “No other country follows blind policies of importing people and exporting jobs like New Zealand and it is time this foolishness was ended for the sake of the people who live here now,” Brown was quoted as saying.

A new visa for Pacific Islanders proposed

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) has proposed a trial program that will issue new visas to Pacific Islanders to fill in about 22,000 job vacancies in horticultural production.  The NFF said the industry is expected to have an 18.1 percent growth in the next 10 years.  In light of the projected boom, the NFF said the trial program should be introduced to provide more job opportunities for workers coming from areas such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. 

Sources: AP, “Call to ban Asian immigration in NZ,” Sydney Morning Herald, 2 April 2008; AAP, “NFF wants new visa for Pacific Islanders,” Sydney Morning Herald, 7 April 2008; Lincoln Tan, “Asians now moving out on own, report finds,” New Zealand Herald, 8 April 2008; Craig Borley, “Chinese nurses could help shortage,” New Zealand Herald, 9 April 2008; NZPA, “Kiwi migration continues,” Stuff, 21 April 2008; “Over 100 Kiwis move to Australia daily,” Sydney Morning Herald, 21 April 2008; Brian Fallow, “Migrant inflow grows to a trickle,” New Zealand Herald, 22 April 2008