Winston’s Attack on Chinese Community Sad And Unfounded
Press Release by ACT President John Boscawen
Monday, June 24 2013
Winston Peters efforts to drive a wedge between the Chinese community and the rest of New Zealand is a sad attempt to
engender support for his party and deliberately ignores the positive contribution the Chinese community makes to New
Zealand, ACT Party President John Boscawen said today.
“In a speech today, Winston made a number of assertions aimed at establishing a false picture that Chinese immigrants
take more from New Zealand than they contribute. This is far from the truth,” Mr Boscawen said.
“Chinese families who immigrate here are hard-working people who move to make a better life for themselves and their
children. In the process, many start their own businesses, employ staff, pay taxes, invest heavily in education and
contribute to the growth of New Zealand’s economy.
“Every year, thousands of Chinese students arrive on our shores to pay top dollar to gain qualifications from our
universities. The universities benefit from increased revenue, and the students’ time here, immersed in our culture,
serves to strengthen economic ties between China and New Zealand.
“China is New Zealand’s second biggest trading partner. In 2011, bilateral trade between our two nations amounted to
$12.7 billion and this will continue to grow.
“Tourism is one of our most significant export industries. Why shouldn’t the Government do all it can to attract
wealthy Chinese visitors to our country to spend their tourist dollar? Australians don’t even need a visa to visit New
Zealand, so the idea that some Chinese visitors getting ‘fast-tracked’ visas amounts to special treatment is laughable.
“Winston also claimed that non-resident Chinese buyers are one of the major drivers behind the Auckland housing
affordability crisis. This is unfounded. The latest BNZ-REINZ survey shows that Chinese buyers represent a mere 1.3
per cent of the market. We don’t hear Winston complaining about the British who buy more homes than the Chinese do.
“The ACT Party rejects Winston’s claims that Chinese are somehow ripping New Zealanders off. Chinese migration and
trade is of significant benefit to the New Zealand economy and, unlike NZ First, the ACT Party welcomes their
contribution,” Mr Boscawen said.
ENDS