Our immigration system not working says National MP

• Author: Leanne Warr
• Published date: 20 June 2022
• Publication title: Bush Telegraph

The National MP was speaking on immigration and education at the inaugural National Wairarapa electorate Supporters Club meeting in Dannevirke recently

She said before COVID, New Zealand had a really tough two or three years in the immigration system.

“Huge long queues for residency — we’ve treated migrants pretty poorly.”

Stanford said in 2018-19 something “went wrong in immigration. The system was broken”. She said the whole system with work visas had been turned upside down and restructured and farmers were working 16 hour days because they couldn’t get staff.

It had also impacted in other industries as well.

“The world has changed since 2018 when they decided they needed to drive down migration.”

New Zealand was seeing the largest workforce shortage in 40 years, Stanford said.

She said New Zealand was now considered not the best for those looking to work in other countries. “Migrants want certainty. The biggest handbrake on our economy is getting skilled people.”

As part of her portfolio in education, Stanford said she had been travelling up and down the...