Do people blame the Government in any way for the economic fallout from war?
Does the economic grind make you look to other political answers?
If Labour promises more money, was the lesson of the last Labour Government not learned? Or do enough not care and will take the money and worry another day, if they worry at all?
Polls will show the usual nonsense around health and education and crime. These are just headline thoughts people drum up when a pollster asks a question.
It's the same question and same answer, forever.
But potentially, if there's an issue outside the economy this time it's immigration. Mainly because it's been used successfully before to stir the pot.
The trouble this time is immigration, in terms of facts, isn't a thing.
When 130,000 newbies arrive, sure, there is a debate. But when it's 24,000 it's no longer an issue.
The brain drain is basically over. Sadly, those that were leaving have largely gone and those that have replaced them are here.
Now, if you don’t like the cultural make up of New Zealand that’s fine, but the election will contain no polices that will change the current make-up.
No one is booting anyone in any numbers out of this country.
A lot of the immigration noise is a political ploy picked up from offshore where immigration is a real touch point. But that is illegal immigration; boat people, gangs on beaches, etc.
We don’t have that. Never have, never will.
Our system is points based – you get points for skills. You can argue around the edges on what those skills are and you can argue around the edges over what countries those skills come from.
You can also argue, with Auckland being the best example, that the cultural landscape has materially changed. I see it, you can't miss it.
Personally, I like it and, sure, not everyone does, but no politician is going to change what we already have.
And that’s the trouble with this election – if immigration is an issue, and if it's divisive, that’s a ploy.
If we were being overrun, fine, have the debate. But we aren't. In fact, it’s the opposite.
As long as employers still can't find talent, and that’s real, where do the workers come from and why would you vote not to solve that problem?
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
Polls will show the usual nonsense around health and education and crime. These are just headline thoughts people drum up when a pollster asks a question.
It's the same question and same answer, forever.
But potentially, if there's an issue outside the economy this time it's immigration. Mainly because it's been used successfully before to stir the pot.
The trouble this time is immigration, in terms of facts, isn't a thing.
When 130,000 newbies arrive, sure, there is a debate. But when it's 24,000 it's no longer an issue.
The brain drain is basically over. Sadly, those that were leaving have largely gone and those that have replaced them are here.
Now, if you don’t like the cultural make up of New Zealand that’s fine, but the election will contain no polices that will change the current make-up.
No one is booting anyone in any numbers out of this country.
A lot of the immigration noise is a political ploy picked up from offshore where immigration is a real touch point. But that is illegal immigration; boat people, gangs on beaches, etc.
We don’t have that. Never have, never will.
Our system is points based – you get points for skills. You can argue around the edges on what those skills are and you can argue around the edges over what countries those skills come from.
You can also argue, with Auckland being the best example, that the cultural landscape has materially changed. I see it, you can't miss it.
Personally, I like it and, sure, not everyone does, but no politician is going to change what we already have.
And that’s the trouble with this election – if immigration is an issue, and if it's divisive, that’s a ploy.
If we were being overrun, fine, have the debate. But we aren't. In fact, it’s the opposite.
As long as employers still can't find talent, and that’s real, where do the workers come from and why would you vote not to solve that problem?
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
2 comments:
Immigration becomes an issue when it takes away the traditional kiwi lifestyle. When you have saved up to buy a house in a nice quite suburb, only to have a multistory block of social housing flats built next door to house the increase in population. It matters when the coastline and environment get devastated by immigrants who take everything they can. It matters when people can't get jobs because they are taken by cheap imported labour. It matters when the health system is clogged up by the elderly parents of the Uber drivers and curry chefs, who have themselves made no contribution to the NZ economy that they are milking. It then matters when you are called a racist and NIMBY because that traditional kiwi lifestyle was important to you.
Tell that to the school leavers who can't even find work in a fast food chain, as it's staffed completely with immigrants from the sub continent.
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