The thing that's really starting to $%^& me off is the constant 'It's all China's fault,' on the lips here.
Just the other day TVOne News did a report on the high price of milk and dairy products. Why are they expensive? 'Because China is developing western tastes.'
Why are property prices so high? 'Well, all the Chinese immigrants are buying up the property.'
Milk prices are up for one reason--greed. I have no problem with farmers making a decent living. Farming is hard work and it would be a shame for NZ's farmers to end up like the farmers in the US. That said, the farmers know that Labour is in trouble, and are unwilling to act against them, so they are gouging the consumer while they can. And believe me, if the Nats win, it won't get any better--and probably will get worse.
As for property, Asian immigrants have low rates of home ownership, so how are they driving up property prices? Considering that only about 1/2 of all homes in NZ are owner-occupied--the other half are rentals--it's Kiwis screwing over Kiwis. They climb the property ladder, then pull it up behind them.
/rant
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EOI Submitted: July 20, 2006
EOI Selected: August 2, 2006
ITA Received: October 12, 2006
ITA Submitted: February 2, 2007
Migrant Levy Paid & Visas Shipped: June 6, 2007
Arrived in NZ: July 26th, 2007
Leaving NZ: June 1st, 2008
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