Immigration

Immigration has changed my country, New Zealand, in so many ways. Watching it happen from the 1980s, when I became aware of it, my impression of it has mostly been positive. As a child growing up in a small country town the only takeaway food, was fish and chips. Possibly take out could be ordered from the only restaurant in town or pub down the road but it didn’t occur to me back then. New Zealand was mostly bi-cultural, European from the British Ilses and Maori. Houses in the 1970s were still affordable on one income. Immigration has changed all that up and down the country.

History

Maori arrived in Aotearoa, New Zealand from Polynesia in the 1200s and 1300s. The great wave of European colonisation arrived approximately 400 years later. After the 1940s an influx of Pacific Islanders arrived seeking a better life for their children and to cover the shortage of workers in primary industries. Asian Immigrants, from China, India and the Philippines arrived from the late 20th century into the early 21st century. Asians came due to government policies and to fill economic roles.

Why Immigration

Governments everywhere use immigration policies as a mechanism for economic growth, to replace an aging workforce or a declining birthrate, and for humanitarian reasons. These mechanisms lead to a culturally diverse population with customs, religions, values, ideas and cuisines of their own.

The Workforce

Although the need for a workforce in the lower skilled sectors of the economy drove immigration from Polynesia and was necessary in the factories, the farms and forestry, it was not the only reason. In Samoa access to higher education was limited to the connected and the wealthy, while the custom of adopting out children to relatives after birth were two reasons that some felt was enough for them to leave for New Zealand. Today Pacific Islanders are represented in all the professions and industries, notably in the public sector, healthcare and education. 

Government policy has a points-based immigration system to fill highly skilled roles in technology, engineering, and healthcare. This system was attractive to many Asian capable of filling those roles. In Auckland, Asians are prominent in business everywhere. An enterprising spirit for business has seen their impact throughout the country.

Housing

Demand for housing due to immigration has driven property prices and rental costs to levels that make home ownership difficult, if not impossible for those who have never owned property. Yes, immigration is one reason for the prohibitive cost of housing, but the blind adherence to free market policies, and a weak government to declare housing as a basic human right, and implement policies strengthening the building of public housing, aggravates the situation.

Australia

In today’s environment of the excessive cost of living and relatively low wages compared to our neighbour Australia, paradoxically becomes the benefit of immigration of Kiwis from New Zealand to them. We lose thousands each month, teachers, firefighters, nurses and doctors, police officers, professionals from all sectors and from primary industries. I know from personal experience as do most families in New Zealand the impact of losing our children and grandchildren to become Australian citizens. Not all become Aussies, but their children certainly will, it entitles them to benefits that cannot be gained without citizenship.

Last Words

Culturally our country has become more diverse and tolerant. Economically our isolated islands have become globally connected. Despite the cost of housing and loss of fellow Kiwis to Australia, immigration has been positive for New Zealand. The benefits far outweigh the downsides.

Acknowledgement: Immigration New Zealand. Auckland: The Pacific comes to Auckland, by Tapu Misa, NZ Herald 27 August 2010.