04/09/2026
🇳🇿 Immigration and New Zealand's Future: More Common Ground Than You Might Think
Today, we had the opportunity to attend an NZAIP (New Zealand Association for Immigration Professionals) pre-election panel discussion featuring Phil Twyford (Labour), Cameron Brewer (National), and Ricardo Menéndez March (Green Party).
As immigration advisers, we often hear concerns from migrants and employers about what may happen to immigration settings after an election. One of the key takeaways from this discussion was that, despite their different political perspectives, all three parties recognised that immigration remains a vital part of New Zealand's future.
While each party had a different emphasis:
🔴 Labour highlighted the role of immigration in helping address New Zealand's ageing population and low birth rate.
🔵 National focused on the importance of attracting investors and ensuring employers can access the skilled workers they need to grow their businesses.
🟢 The Green Party emphasised the humanitarian side of immigration and the importance of supporting people seeking safety, opportunity, and a better future.
What was particularly interesting was the strong consensus around one point: immigration plays a critical role in addressing skill shortages and supporting New Zealand's economic growth.
For those who worry that a change in government could lead to dramatic shifts in immigration policy, history provides some reassurance. New Zealand's immigration framework has remained relatively stable across successive governments for decades. While policies evolve and priorities change, there is broad recognition across the political spectrum that immigration is essential to New Zealand's prosperity, workforce, and future development.
As licensed immigration advisers, it's encouraging to see constructive discussions about how immigration can continue to benefit migrants, employers, and New Zealand as a whole.
