Labour letting fruit rot on the vines - Act

“Even with the borders open and the rest of the world moving on, New Zealand businesses are suffering from Labour’s immigration incompetence,” says Jamie McDowall.

McDowall points to recent media reports claiming fruit harvesting is down 15%.

“Somehow the labour shortage is so severe it is even harder to find workers than it was when our borders were closed and our country was locked down. Now people are choosing to leave the country but we won’t let workers in from the other direction,” he says.

“Other countries can see there’s a war for talent and they’re taking steps to raid New Zealand’s. For example, the UK recently extended the working holiday visa for Kiwis to 35 years of age. In stark contrast, Immigration NZ is acting like a security guard at the border.”

He says the border settings are a major contributor to the current cost of living crisis in New Zealand.

“Our productivity levels are tanking as orchards can’t get fruit pickers. Building sites can’t get builders. Hospitals can’t get nurses. Farms can’t get milkers. There are shortages of essential workers that are creating a wage-price spiral,” McDowall says.

He says the Government’s decision to pause immigration during the last two years of the pandemic has had a devastating impact on many industries and New Zealand’s productivity.

“Now we should be opening our borders and welcoming the world back, but they’re only allowing a trickle of immigration.

“Immigration policy should be simple to navigate and welcoming so that the New Zealand economy can grow and more locals can be employed through job creation and investment. The Government has had more than two years of effectively zero immigration, yet the problems and backlogs persist.”

McDowall says Immigration Minister Michael Wood needs to change the immigration settings and allow New Zealand to start welcoming skilled migrants into the country.

“This is a crisis. We’re losing the war on talent and the ramifications will be felt for years to come in lost productivity and businesses being unable to survive.”