Anti-immigrant campaign intensifies in New Zealand
By
Tom Peters
27 April 2017
Five months ahead of the September general election, New Zealand’s National Party government and the country’s opposition parties are all promoting policies to slash immigrant numbers.
On April 19, the government announced a policy to prevent migrants from obtaining a Skilled Migrant Visa if they earn below New Zealand’s median annual income of $49,000. The change means thousands of low-paid migrant workers may struggle to obtain a visa. They will find it harder to obtain permanent residency, because their work will no longer count as “skilled.”
The change follows cuts to visa numbers announced last October. The skilled migrant category was tightened and the right of migrants to bring parents to New Zealand was removed.
The anti-immigrant measures are part of the shift in ruling circles throughout the world toward more extreme forms of nationalism, aimed at dividing the working class by scapegoating foreigners for the worsening economic and social crisis. The Trump administration in the United States is leading the way with its “America first” rhetoric and vicious attacks on Muslims and Mexican immigrants.
The announcement in New Zealand came a day after the Australian government unveiled restrictions on immigration, including tougher English language tests and a requirement that migrants show “allegiance” to Australia and unspecified “Australian values.” This lays the basis for the interrogation and surveillance of migrants and increased discrimination on the grounds of nationality, religion or politics.
In both countries, the entire political establishment is clamouring for greater attacks on the rights of immigrants. New Zealand’s opposition Labour Party denounced…