Migrants Buy Way in on Business Visa

Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

26 March 2014

Migrants Buy Way in on Business Visa

Migrants will continue to get back-door entry into New Zealand on the back of business visa schemes, despite changes this week, says New Zealand First.

“The Government’s new business visa will be as big a failure as the last one. We have no confidence in the new visa scheme attracting genuine investment in new business and jobs for New Zealanders,” says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.

“The new visa will be another case of immigrants getting into New Zealand on the cheap,” says Mr Peters. “New Zealand First has no problem with investment into productive business that creates jobs – the business visa category needs a complete re-think.”

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has admitted that the Long-term Business Visa, which has been replaced, attracted “a large number” of “low quality” applications.

“We have consistently warned about these schemes, but they continue to be badly implemented and open to being rorted,” says Mr Peters. “This scheme was so loose applicants could take over an unprofitable business, gain residency, then sell it on to new applicants,” says Mr Peters.

“Shop recycling has become a way to a new life in New Zealand.

“The Minister mentioned the $2-type shop as an example of an import business that is sold time and time again to new migrants to fulfil visa requirements with no advantage for New Zealand.

“The new Entrepreneur Work Visa sets a minimum capital investment of $100,000. This is laughable, way too low to set up or expand a genuine business that creates real new jobs and creates exports.

“The new visa gives points for starting a business outside Auckland. Why has it taken over five years for the Minister to realise that for far too long immigration has been concentrated in Auckland – putting pressure on housing and infrastructure.

“New Zealand First has consistently pointed out that migrants should be attracted to the regions to take the pressure off cities, particularly Auckland,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS