Govt. wants fewer immigrants

[MotherBear]

Government wants fewer immigrants
1:40PM Thursday July 05, 2007

Persistent inflation has forced the Government to lower its resident migrants target despite ongoing skill shortages in several industries.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe today said the New Zealand Residence Programme for the coming year would target 45,000 to 50,000 migrants, compared with 47,000 to 52,000 in the past year.

"With the economy strong and New Zealand competing in a global market for skilled migrants, our top priority at present is ensuring we get high quality migrants while not adding to inflationary pressures," he said.

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has raised the official cash rate three times this year and has cited high immigration as one of the factors underpinning a housing market that continues to rise.

Mr Cunliffe said one of the ways the Government would look to meet any additional skill shortages was through temporary migrants.

More here

[MotherBear]

Migrant numbers tweaked to ease inflation pressures
5:00AM Friday July 06, 2007
By Claire Trevett

The Government is trimming the number of migrants over the next year, saying it will help reduce pressure on inflation and house prices.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe has reduced the target number of migrants for 2007-08 to between 45,000 and 50,000 - down from a band of 47,000 to 50,000 the year before.

He said actual migrant numbers last year were about 47,000, at the lower end of the band, and further tightening was needed to help reduce pressure on inflation.

The cut follows repeated warnings from Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard blaming immigration as one of the factors fuelling inflation, partly by pushing up house prices because of the extra demand.

Robin Clements, chief economist with UBS, said the step would be of limited success because it did not address the other end of the problem, the numbers of people leaving.

More here .

[MotherBear]

This could be potentially serious if it comes into force and might affect those who don't qualify directly for PR or those of us who are hoping to get in under the Family Sponsorship Category. Basically it sounds like they're wanting to cut out all but the cream of the crop. Let's hope they concentrate on pruning the Pacific Islanders etc. first.

Migration policies are bad for the economy, says academic
5:00AM Tuesday July 10, 2007
By Angela Gregory

New Zealand's immigration policies attract far fewer skilled migrants than suggested and while good at building new suburbs are bad for the economy, says a Massey University academic.

Dr Greg Clydesdale, an economist who lectures in management and international business, said there was conflict between those who wanted to cut immigration to reduce house price pressure and those who saw the need for skilled immigrants.

Dr Clydesdale said the solution would be to cut back on immigrants who did not bring in skills.

Drawing on the Department of Labour's migration trends 2004 data, he said only 15 per cent of immigrants had skills the country needed.

More here .