Dalziel Lianne: Immigration Amendment Bill — Instructions to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Dalziel Lianne: Immigration Amendment Bill — Instructions to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:611;Page:8273] 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Immigration) 
: 
 I will speak briefly to Part 1. I am looking at the amendment in Pansy Wong’s name. I think she has made some good points. If we can accommodate those then we certainly will attempt to do so. 
I think it is important for people to realise that the bill and the objects in clause 3 are about explaining what is being replaced with what. The general skills category which was originally introduced in 1991 is being replaced with a new skilled migrant category. This bill facilitates that particular change. It does change the way we do things. Instead of the process starting off with an application that leads to absolute entitlement to residence in our country we are moving away from entitlement to an “invitation to apply” situation based on people’s expressions of interest that is run on a points system. To put it bluntly this is the best of both worlds. This is the best of what preceded the 1991 changes and indeed the 1991 skills category as it was known at the time—subsequently it was changed to the general skills category. A points system that is very transparent and open will be the precursor to the invitation to apply. It will not be based on an individual officer’s discretion as to the particular place that the individual came from where that person was born or his or her religious background—or any of the nonsense we have heard from the other side. That was made very clear at the select committee. 
The reason we are establishing this legislative framework to move away from the entitlement model is that all through the 1990s and indeed still today people have moved here under the skills category who can never be employed in New Zealand in the field of expertise in which they have qualifications or experience. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Well change the points system. 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: The member interjects to say that the Government of the day changed the rule. Yes it is true. In 1991 the skills category came into effect. Four years later in 1995 the requirement that individuals before they got their immigration points be registered with the bodies they are required to be registered with in order to practise in New Zealand was finally implemented but it did not help a single skilled migrant who did not need registration in law but needed it in practice. 
So I am a little bit sick and tired of people telling only half the story. Literally thousands of people in this country believed that New Zealand had something to offer them. They sold up their homes they moved their families from one side of the world to the other and today they are disappointed and disgusted with the decision they made because they believed that New Zealand wanted them needed them and had something to offer them when we had nothing to offer them when they arrived in this country. The 1990s were a very sad and sorry time in immigration policy in this country. Those who were responsible for immigration policy during the 1990s should look to themselves before making criticism of a policy that is designed to ensure that New Zealand’s interests are paramount. In determining that New Zealand’s interests are paramount we are ensuring that the benefit will be shared with the skilled migrants because the skilled migrants will be coming to New Zealand because we need them here.