26 JANUARY 2016

Immigration at Expense of Ordinary Nzers – Peters

Auckland’s dire housing crisis is deepening, yet the Government continues to ignore one of the chief causes – open door immigration, says New Zealand First.

“Figures released by Statistics New Zealand show immigration to this country continues to break records,” says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“There was a record net gain (more arrivals than departures) of 63,700 migrants in the year to November 2015 and just over half of these migrants said they were moving to the Auckland region.

“In November 2015 there was a record net gain of 6,300 migrants. Net migration has been regularly breaking records since August 2014 (4,800), when it surpassed the previous highest net gain of 4,700 in February 2003.

“The result of this open door policy is that demand for Auckland’s limited housing stock has gone through the roof.

“In the space of a year Auckland has climbed from being the world’s ninth most expensive city for housing to the fifth.

“Yet all we get from the National government are bland statements and no action.

“Just how much more unaffordable does Auckland have to become before the government does something constructive?

“New Zealand First says a brake must be applied on immigration now before it is too late so that ordinary New Zealanders are given the opportunity of owning their own homes in Auckland.

“For those living outside Auckland, it must be made attractive for them to move there, especially for those with essential work skills.

“Otherwise Auckland will have to grapple with more than just a housing crisis, it will have to battle an employment crisis as well.’’

ENDS

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