Fewer migrants, thanks, says Hamilton and NZ First

Friday, 20 May 2016

Hamilton residents and New Zealand First supporters are among four groups which want fewer migrants allowed in the country.

In a recent Colmar-Brunton political poll, people were asked about the number of migrants the Government should let in to the country.

The results showed 42 per cent of those polled in Hamilton, wanted the Government to let fewer migrants in.

Other groups polled which also wanted fewer migrants included 38 per cent of those living in small towns or rural areas, 53 per cent of Maori and 40 per cent of New Zealand First supporters.

Overall figures showed just over half (51 per cent) of New Zealand voters polled believed the number of migrants being let in is about right, close to a quarter, or 27 per cent, said the government should let fewer in and nearly a fifth, or 18 per cent say the Government should let more migrants in. Four per cent said they did not know.

New Zealand First's List MP for Hamilton, Barbara Stewart, believes the reaction against migrants in Hamilton, could be due to the difficulty some new nationals have adapting to the Kiwi style of home living.

'They're struggling with the concept of a house that we have in New Zealand and looking after the section,' Stewart said.

'Some of the Asian immigrants in particular because they've never had to look after their section, they live in apartments, and it's quite difficult to be  responsible for the ground outside and around your house.'

Stewart said her office had received complaints about the state of houses that they believed were owned on tenanted by Asian migrants.

She said people had told her the outside of the properties weren't kept well and there was a perception that this was devaluing neighbouring homes.

Hamilton City Councillor Philip Yeung was an ethnic services liaison for the council, before being becoming an elected member.

He said there may be some confusion about whether new arrivals in Hamilton were from another country or people who had just moved down from Auckland.

'All of the people [are] coming from Auckland to Rototuna, and in between there will be a lot of migrants too. But it doesn't mean those migrants [are] from overseas.'

Stewart also agreed Auckland issues were affecting Hamilton.

'We are now, in Hamilton, getting the overflow of people coming in from Auckland.' 

Anjum Rahman, trustee of Shama, an ethnic women's development trust in Hamilton, said the findings of the poll seemed to be out  of proportion with actual demographic changes in the city.

'If we look at the ethnic profile that was released by the city council, we're sitting  at 13 per cent Asian whereas the rest of the country is around 10 per cent, so it's not hugely  more diverse but the reaction seems to be out of proportion to that.'