At last, one political party is willing to say out loud what many New Zealanders have been thinking for years, that our immigration system is broken, and the numbers pouring in are unsustainable.
On X yesterday, New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones delivered a blunt message that cut through the usual political spin. While the left celebrate a steady stream of migrants coming into the country, Jones made it clear that his party will not accept an endless flow of people arriving simply because they want to live here.
“Others may very well be happy that we have a flood of migrants coming to New Zealand, not who we need but who want us and have an expectation of becoming residents and citizens. But New Zealand First does not accept that,” Jones said.
New Zealand’s immigration settings have for years been tilted toward demand rather than need. Too many people are arriving not because they fill critical shortages, but because our system makes it relatively easy for them to settle here. The result is mounting pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services already stretched to their limits.
For ordinary New Zealanders trying to buy a first home, secure a rental or get timely medical care, the effects are obvious. For too long, successive governments have chosen to look the other way, preferring the short-term economic sugar hit that comes with rising population numbers.
Jones and New Zealand First are tapping into a frustration that is only growing louder. Voters see their communities changing rapidly, with little say over who comes here or why. They see promises about “skilled migrants” too often translating into underpaid workers who do little to boost productivity or contribute meaningfully to the economy.
What Jones is demanding is not isolationism or xenophobia, but balance. New Zealand needs migrants, yes, but it needs the right ones. People who genuinely contribute, fill gaps we cannot, and enhance rather than overwhelm our way of life. That means far tougher rules, tighter caps and an immigration policy set by what New Zealand needs, not what migrants want.
Finally, a political party is brave enough to state the obvious. The question now is whether the rest of the political class will continue to hide from the debate, or whether Jones’ straight talk will force them to confront a reality that can no longer be ignored.
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
4 comments:
But then they have to walk the talk.
The employment market for highly trained medical staff is a global one. NZ has to compete with places like Qatar (triple the pay in USD, no income tax, housing subsidy, paid furloughs, free private schooling for the kids) for specialist surgeons and specialist nurses. To attract top quality human capital you have to pay commensurately. But that throws the local employment market into disarray by putting immense upward pressure on salaries for related occupations resulting in 'trickle down' wage inflation that the economy can't support.
Real doctors or ones who obtain public funding by deception? Careful what you wish for and who you listen to.
Absolutely right brother! When is NZ going to wake up and finally get a government with Winston and his team in it!? He has been out of government for so long, here’s to a well-run 2026 campaign, Winnie! Whoever is running the country now should be shaking in their boots.
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