Immigration no sweet spot for coalition talks

New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones says the party is unhappy with National and ACT’s plans to reopen the property market to foreign buyers.

The ban on sales was brought in by the Labour-New Zealand First coalition, and the prospect of it being lifted is already causing house prices to rise.

Mr Jones says the party is against using immigration to fuel economic growth.

“We have done ourselves a gross disservice pursuing mass immigration. Not only has it put strain and pressure on our infrastructure but we’re changing the character, we’re changing the culture, and we’re changing the direction of the country because we’re not doing enough to actually grow, develop and retain our homegrown talent,” he says.

Mr Jones says leader Winston Peters has long taken the position we should attract the people we need, not the people who need us.

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