Winston Peters says NZ First will ‘substantially reduce non-essential immigration and restore the principle that immigration is a privilege, not a right,’ as Labour says immigration should be planned around what NZ needs

New Zealand First says it's "imperative" a NZ First Minister has the immigration portfolio in the next coalition government to "ensure the oversight, control and reform of the immigration system."

The party announced a suite of immigration policies on Friday ahead of November's election.

“This set of policies is about taking back control of the future of our country and valuing our unique citizenship the way it should be - just like the vast majority of other countries do around the world, NZ First leader Winston Peters says.

NZ First is proposing that: 
- The birthright citizenship requirements get updated so only children of citizens will automatically be entitled to NZ citizenship at birth
- Changes to the asylum seeker system be made. These include making protected person status temporary by design, ensuring that any person seeking asylum while in NZ on a working-class visa will be ineligible to do so and making sure that asylum claimants are not able to use temporary work rights granted during the assessment period as “a stepping stone” to another visa
- The required period to qualify for citizenship will be doubled from five years to a minimum of 10 years and for permanent residence, this will change from two years to five years
- The cost of applying for citizenship and permanent residence will increase “to reflect its value and to better fund the wider immigration system”
- There is a 10-year stand-down period for welfare, which means all non-citizens will be ineligible for jobseeker, the accommodation supplement or any other benefits during their first 10 years in NZ
- The criteria for deportation widens to cover any offence for which imprisonment is available as a sentence - with automatic deportation for those found guilty of violent or sexual crimes, found guilty of fraud, participating in an organised criminal group, money laundering, aiding and abetting under the Immigration Act, or migrant exploitation
- A referendum is held on the introduction of a legislated annual cap on the number of resident visas issued each year
- Social housing be made to available to citizens first and foremost
- A 24-month amnesty for overstayers to self-deport with no restrictions on applications to return. The party would allow for a 24-month clemency period to facility any Pacific overstayer to remain in NZ on a valid visa (this will apply only to overstayers of Pacific origin)
- Any overstayer found past the clemency period has lapsed will be deported and permanently ineligible to apply for any visa in the future
- Ensure student visa holders intending to transition to another visa will be required to leave before reapplying for another visa from abroad
- Remove the automatic work rights for international students and make it mandatory for any international student who wants to work in New Zealand while they study to apply under strict conditions to work.

“For too long, governments have relied on immigration to drive headline economic growth and cheap labour. The result has been greater pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services, increased competition for entry-level jobs, and declining confidence that immigration is being managed in the national interest," NZ First leader Winston Peters says.

“New Zealand First will substantially reduce non-essential immigration and restore the principle that immigration is a privilege, not a right,” Peters says.

“New Zealand is more than an economy. It is a nation with its own history, institutions and way of life," he says.

“Immigration policy should strengthen social cohesion and encourage integration into a shared national community.”

Peters says the country needs to start viewing citizenship as a privilege that comes with special and unique rights and identity, like they do in most countries around the world.

“This does not take away from the ability for migrants looking to move here, contribute, and help build our country from showing total commitment and patriotism for New Zealand by becoming a citizen.”

‘Immigration should be planned around what New Zealand needs’

Separately on Friday, Labour immigration spokesperson Phil Twyford released a statement saying immigration should be planned around what NZ needs, and be managed in a way "that's fair to everyone here and everyone who comes.”

“Getting immigration right is fundamental to New Zealand’s future. We need an immigration system that attracts the skills and talent our country needs, protects migrants from exploitation, and gives people the confidence to build a future here," Twyford said.

Labour says its will: 
- Plan immigration around New Zealand’s capacity by setting goals through a Government Policy Statement on immigration that reflects our workforce demographic, housing and infrastructure needs
- "Encourage migrants to put down roots" by extending the period migrants must live here before becoming eligible for permanent residence from two years to four alongside having a programme of NZ orientation and civic education delivered by community education providers to strengthen social cohesion
- Protect migrants from exploitation by enabling migrants to move between accredited employers after three months, strengthening the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme, and improving access to community support
- Protect humanitarian appeals against deportation, setting up a citizenship pathway for children born in New Zealand, and reviewing parent visa, health, and English-language rules

“Migrants bring skills, energy, and enterprise to New Zealand. A Labour government will back people to build their lives and careers here, while ensuring immigration supports the long-term interests of New Zealand,” Twyford says.