Cutting down the number of migrants?

[MotherBear]

Govt out to ease impact of migrants
5:00AM Tuesday June 19, 2007
By Derek Cheng

The Government is taking a cautious approach to immigration, pushing down the numbers of incoming migrants while seeking further advice on the impact of immigration on inflation. It is understood a paper is being prepared for the Cabinet which will address, among other things, the effect of immigration on the housing market.

As the Reserve Bank and New Zealand First highlight the effect of immigration on inflation and the housing market, the Government has decided to drop the target of incoming migrants this year to 47,000, the bottom end of the 47,000 to 52,000 forecast.

Despite this, Immigration Minister David Cunliffe is standing by his comments in May, when he said the impact of immigration on the housing market was "likely to be relatively small".

More here .

[MotherBear]

Trickle of migrants double-edged sword
5:00AM Thursday June 21, 2007
By Brian Fallow

The net inflow of migrants has dwindled to a trickle this year, easing pressure on the housing market but doing little to relieve labour shortages.

Last month permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 360, Statistics NZ reported. The figure is based on airport declarations of people saying they intend to stay, or intend to be gone, for at least a year.

For the first five months of 2007 the net inflow has been 2100.

If that rate is sustained for the rest of the year the gain will be only 5000, compared with the average gain of more than 12,000 for the past 16 years.

More here .