Thanks to TVNZ for putting the spotlight on the government racist immigration policies which discriminate again and again against our Pacific neighbours.
The racism occurs at all levels.
Working here:
An Australian wanting to work here simply needs to jump on a plane, come over and apply for a work permit. Pasifika from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji for example can’t do that. Most have to apply through the RSE scheme and come here as essentially short-term, low-paid bonded labour to help with harvesting etc in horticulture. The treatment of many – if not most – of these workers is a national disgrace. We’d never do this to Australians or Europeans wanting to work here so why do it to Pasifika?
Politicians say the difference is that Australians come with better work skills but this is untrue. No-one checks the work skills of Australians entering the country.
Visiting here:
Australians have had visa-free entry to this country for a long time and can come and visit friends and family, or tour the country at will. However Pasifika families must apply for a visa and these are frequently denied as outlined on the TVNZ story.
Overstaying:
There are overstayers from all groups who come here but as we saw with the dawn raids of the 1970s, Pasifika were singled out for raids and deportation while European overstayers were overlooked.
The solution:
Let’s treat everyone from the Pacific in the same way we treat Australians. Dealing with our Pacific neighbours with dignity and respect wrt immigration will significantly reduce overstaying as a problem in any case. For example, there are times in the past when the flow of Pasifika back home has exceeded the numbers coming here.
Despite having a Labour government which relies heavily on Pasifika votes to win parliamentary seats our basic immigration policies are still based squarely on deep-seated prejudices within our immigration bureaucracy and the demands for bonded labour from the horticulture sector.
It has to change.
Let’s do it!
Indeed @John.
One of the 3 main reasons I can no longer Party vote Labour.
And it’s not JUST the Pasifika issue either. It’s our immigration policies in general,
(Things like tying visas to employers which is a recipe for exploitation. And only recently has the Labour Expectorant begun to take the issue seriously – even then they’re not resourced properly.)
The 2nd main reason is the Children’s Commissioner and OT debacle, and the 3rd – various MSD policies and treatment of beneficiaries.
And then on top of that, housing, health and education when corporate welfare gets a better run than people.
Who has more power in the relationship is key. Aussie has more economic power than NZ, hence the 501s. Nz has more economic power than the Pacific, hence the current situation.
I would suggest NZ to stop taking refugees from other parts of the world. It is not our responsibility to save refugees from war torn countries from far and beyond.
Instead we should look after our own backyard. The number of climate refugees are going to increase substantially. If we won’t help, then China will by loaning them funds which they can’t repay.
Let’s use our funds and support to make the Pacific stronger.
Taking all our refugees from Pacifica does not earn Jacinda as many brownie points at the UN . She will be looking for a job after the next election.
In answer to the original question I would imaging there would not be many overstayers from Australia that with finish up being supported by the tax payer
New Zealanders have reciprocal rights to live and work in Australia. Do they have the same rights in most Pacific Island countries? No. There is the obvious answer why there is a difference in treatment by immigration.
Exactly.
Quite right Anonymous. The answer is reciprocality. We don’t want to lose our rights to Australia. Minto is naive.
” …while European overstayers were overlooked.” Untrue. They were just harder to find. Once found they were treated in exactly the same manner.
Oh, and Cook Islanders do have free residency in New Zealand. Thereby refuting racist smears.
Awe maaaate! Rack Off! Seriously, they were overlooked in favour of chasing down others from those “shithole” nations. Just occasionally the ‘officials’ get caught – That fucking Casson being just one of them who is yet to be held to account. 2,3 4 years ago, I watched first hand some of his antics and there were some of his colleagues that let it happen without saying nowt.
Actually, I wouldn’t mind meeting the guy now just to see how deeply he’s gone down the rabbit hole.
On second thoughts, I’ve got better things to do than give time to watching wankers exercise their egos.
But I wouldn’t mind meeting some of the Immigration ‘officials’ I overheard at the Te Puke Police Station and across the road just prior to their getting their ‘raids’. (I didn’t see TV cameras present so I imagine they didn’t reach orgasm knowing they’d not be part of some reality TV Border Force show).
Serious question. Where does Pacific start and end? I feel I should know this but I don’t. Is Is a generally accepted geographic area.h
Perhaps when the same applies in reverse and we can live and buy and sell land and property there also?
Maybe there is mutual benefit in doing so, maybe not, it’s got nothing to do with racism.
It’s not very clever to pick out one part of an immigration policy if you want to compare like with like and start claiming racism.
We are racist that is why we need stop talking crap about having special relationships with our PI whanau.
The usual lazy racism card being played in the comments here.
Australians are wealthier than us so don’t overstay or take low paid jobs whereas it’s the inverse for Pacific Islanders.
We also have to be careful we don’t strip the labour market of quality within the Pacific Islands and damage their economies.
Yeah we should just strip them of their very talented rugby players for our national team. What a joke.
It’s because we have a reciprocal arrangement with Australia which all kiwis of all races benefit from.
There are over half a million New Zealanders living and working in Australia.
Losing that reciprocal arrangement would be consequential for New Zealanders.
Could the same be said for Samoa, Tonga, or Fiji?
OZ protects it’s citizens by making sure that newbie residents can not draw on free welfare and health care and vote in OZ. NZ needs to do this.
Kiwis want to go to OZ to work at higher paid jobs, the sacrifice is that OZ citizens can do the same here. Pacific Islands don’t have high paid jobs and decent welfare so it is not a fair trade – instead having free access to Pacific Island residents will and does swamp NZ welfare and health care.
NZ kids are growing up in grotty hotels which has been created by ideology of the left and cancellation of what used to work.
NZ lefties have abandoned NZ poor and more interested in making sure more overseas families in poverty can access facilities that NZ kids and adults in poverty don’t seem to be getting.
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