PM Post Cabinet Press Conference: Immigration and Housing
Robert Kelly
Prime Minister John Key began by talking about his recent attendance at the APEC and ASEAN summits. He segued neatly
from the opportunities available in Vietnam to outlining his upcoming itinerary which includes Malta, Paris and Berlin.
Prime Minister Key said that New Zealand was going in to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference with a goal
of limiting global temperature rise “to no more than two percent”. Key also said that while New Zealand’s emissions were
small on a global scale, “we are determined to make a fair and ambitious contribution”.
When questioned about the impact of the rise in net migration into New Zealand the Prime Minister responded that it
should be seen as a “great day of celebration” because it showed people wanted to live in New Zealand. Key said that
many of the numbers that made up net migration were students who had come here to study, and New Zealand citizens and
residents who were returning home. Mr Key played down suggestions that net migration was a contributor to the rising
unemployment rate and emphasised that there was still a “high participation rate” in the New Zealand economy.
Key announced the details of the changes made to KiwiSaver and outlined several government measures designed to help
people buy their first homes. These initiatives included KiwiSaver Home-Start grants and changes in eligibility to
“welcome home loans”. Key responded to questions about densification in Auckland’s suburbs by saying that any discussion
would need to be on a “case by case basis”.
Key announced a public memorial service for Jonah Lomu in Auckland on Monday November 30. He said that it was to be
accompanied by a Pasifika service and that the costs of the public commemoration would be met by central government. The
commemoration is being organised by Lomu’s family with the assistance of John Hart.
Audio:
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ENDS