Clayton Mitchell New Zealand First MP

Net immigration has now topped more than 60,000 a year. That is 1200 foreigners coming into New Zealand each week. New Zealand simply cannot absorb that rate of uncontrolled immigration, which is costing jobs and placing impossible pressure on our housing and infrastructure.

This past Saturday, when the Right Honourable Winston Peters addressed a standing-room only crowd of more than 300 people in the Greerton Village Community Hall, Mr Peters went on to explain how New Zealand's unfocussed immigration policies are also to blame for the deterioration in our special relationship with Australia.

As far back as 2001, New Zealand First warned that our country was being used as a bolt hole to immigrate to Australia and that sooner or later there would be a reaction. Our warnings were ignored. However, there has been a steady deterioration in our special status with Australia ever since.

Today, our political parties and commentators whinge about the treatment of New Zealanders in Australia. It is time they take responsibility for the treatment of our citizens abroad.

It is common sense that if we are to recover our special status with Australia, it will only happen if we belatedly adopt sound, rational and responsible immigration policies.

We must be more strategic with our immigration policies, making sure that immigration is being used to meet real needs in New Zealand and not allowed to take away jobs that New Zealanders could and would otherwise fill. We must also make sure that we're sending immigrants out to regions where they are needed and not allowing them to stay in Auckland where they continue to exacerbate the housing crisis. It is time for a change.