Migration shows N.Z. in 'parlous state’

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 11

Migration shows N.Z. in 'parlous state’

Parliamentary reporter Almost twice as many New Zealanders were leaving the country as were returning, indicating the parlous state of the domestic economy and outlook, .Labour’s Shadow Minister of Immigration, Mr T. K. Burke,has said. The latest migration figures for the nine months to December show that almost 39,000 New Zealanders left long-term or permantently, while only a little more than half that number, 20,582 returned. "This is a consistent trend under the National Government,” said Mr Burke. "But the real tragedy is that these are the very people we can ill-afford to lose, and they are in the very occupations that the Government is now scanning the streets of Europe for,” he said. ,More than two-thirds of those leaving New Zealand in the nine months were employed before leaving and the majority had a skill, he said. "For example, there was a net outflow of more than 3000 production and related •workers, such as plumbers, electricians, fitters, and builders. About 90 per cent of this occupational grouping have a skill, the very same skill the Government is advertising overseas to employ on its big energy projects. “Quite simply, under this Government, the job and business opportunities just are not there. Far more investment is required in the job-rich sectors of the econ-

omy, and far less on the ‘think big’ energy projects that, on average, create one job for every $1.3 million invested. “The Government’s only answer is to import foreign labour instead of attracting our own back. Indeed, in November last year, the Government changed its immigration policy, freeing entry requirements for certain skilled workers from selected European countries. “This Government cannot attract New Zealanders home. They are economic

; and political refugees from > the Muldoon Government.” ! said Mr Burke. 1 The latest migration figures were further proof that the real benefits of the 1 Government’s growth : strategy would not be shared 1 by New Zealanders, but by multinationals and foreigners, he said. “A net outflow of 18,500 New Zealanders in the first nine months of ‘think big’ just goes to show the little faith there is in this programme,” said Mr Burke.