Tuesday, 19 July 2022 16:55

Labour letting fruit rot on the vines - Act

Written by  Staff Reporters
Act's immigration spokesperson says New Zealand businesses are suffering because of the Government's immigration policy. Act's immigration spokesperson says New Zealand businesses are suffering because of the Government's immigration policy.

Act’s immigration spokesperson claims Labour is failing the country with its immigration policy.

“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.”

More like this

Farmer vote

OPINION: The coalition Government, already under the pump thanks to poor polling numbers, is facing the ire of its traditional support base – dairy and red meat farmers.

A steep learning curve

A steep learning curve, a very busy year and thank heavens for tractor therapy. That's how Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard described his first year in Parliament to reporter Peter Burke at his dairy farm in the Manawatu during the holiday break.

'End red tape'

ACT MP and farmer Mark Cameron is calling on Parliament to thank farmers by reinstating provisions within the Resource Management Act that prevent regional councils from factoring climate change into their planning.

Visa changes to ease pressure on farmers

Changes to migrant visa settings announced last month should take a lot of pressure off farmers in the new season, says Federated Farmers immigration spokesman Richard McIntyre.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

New Holland combines crack 50 years

New Holland is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction its Twin Rotor threshing and separation technology, which has evolved…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Double standards

OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".

Debt monster

OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter