Lockwood Smith MP
National Party Immigration Spokesman
20 June 2008
Labour fails to stem trans-Tasman exodus
The exodus of people leaving for Australia continues to pick up pace under Labour, says National’s Immigration
spokesman, Lockwood Smith.
Dr Smith is commenting on the latest migration statistics for the year ended May 2008.
“In the past 12 months, 79,916 people left New Zealand to live somewhere else. This represents the second largest loss
of people in one year since records began.
“Equally worrying is that in the year ended May 2008, 44,749 people left permanently for Australia. That compares to
37,713 for the year ended May 2007.
“The last time more people left in the space of 12 months was two decades ago, when Labour was last in government.
“When we look at the net exodus of people, the migration rate is even worse. In the past 12 months, even after factoring
in the number of people coming to live here, our net loss to Australia was 31,194.
“That represents an alarming 28% increase from the year ended May 2007.
“Labour is failing to give Kiwis a decent reason to stay in New Zealand.
“They see an out of touch government that, after nine years, has not adequately dealt with the things that matter to
them like law and order, health care where they need it closer to home, tax rates that provide the right incentives, and
an education system that gives our kids the best opportunities.”
ENDS