NZ Becomes Soft Touch for So-Called Business Immigrants

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse needs to explain why New Zealand has allowed the country to become a soft touch for so-call business immigrants, given the sharp rise in investor approvals.

“Figures reveal that business visas have soared,” says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“The whole business investor category needs a re-think. We have warned the government about the $2 shop scam as a cheap pathway to residency. Laughably, they set up a new Entrepreneur Work Visa with a minimum capital investment of $100,000 – it’s no wonder we are a soft touch.

“Approvals under the $1.5million investor category have soared in four years from 30 to 516 .These will only grow – we are a target because of our great lifestyle, our quality of health and education, and as a retirement oasis where migrants can get full NZ Superannuation after 10 years residency.

”Why isn’t the government following the example of Canada which slammed the door shut after it realised an investor visa programme had become an express lane for wealthy Chinese.

“The government should not be undervaluing New Zealand residency by selling permanent residency for a few dollars. It’s residency on the cheap.

“We must be careful who we allow to settle into New Zealand. While there is a call for more investment, let’s make sure the investment actually creates jobs and benefits New Zealand, that it is being monitored, and that the money being invested was not gained in the first place by corruption.

“We do not need to sell ourselves short.

“The Prime Minister has reappointed Mr Woodhouse as Immigration Minister despite the fact he was lobbied by new investor immigrant Donghua Liu. The Minister rushed to meet Mr Liu, privately in Auckland where he heard how Mr Liu wanted to change an immigration law.

“That such a recent immigrant should have so much influence is a disgrace. Furthermore, Mr Liu did not fulfil the promise he made to spend $10 million on a development, however he did donate to the National Party.

“It’s time for a clean-up of our immigration categories and to have extreme vigilance on who we allow in and what they do when they get here.”

ENDS

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