Pillay Lynne: Immigration Bill — First Reading 
Pillay Lynne: Immigration Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:641;Page:11236] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to stand and take a call on the Immigration Bill. In doing so I commend my very good friend and colleague from west Auckland David Cunliffe for the sterling work he has done on this bill. It is a proud moment for David as it is for this Government. 
Immigration is a cornerstone of this Government’s long-term goals in respect of economic transformation our focus on families young and old and our national identity. Migrants are central to these goals by bringing in skills trades links to our export markets and investments and indeed by adding to the diversity and the richness of this country. 
The new global environment has increased competition for skilled migrants and there is a greater need to ensure New Zealand is secure. More than 5 million people cross our borders each year. We want to attract and retain the cream of that migrant pool. To do this we need to market New Zealand in a way that is attractive and desirable but grounded in realism. We need to provide first-class immigration services that are responsive pro-active skills-focused and people-centred and in doing that we need to strengthen New Zealand’s security by supporting robust decision making both on and offshore creating secure borders and having the ability to manage risk in New Zealand. 
We know and I acknowledge that despite some churlishness the Opposition has acknowledged that there are some very very good focuses in this bill. Certainly our up-to-date exclusion data criteria will set out very clearly the people we do not want to come into our country such as people with serious criminal convictions who will indeed pose a risk to New Zealand. Also there is more flexibility for screening airline passengers before they get on a plane to New Zealand and enhanced compliance and enforcement powers so that immigration officers can conduct searches at the border to prevent detect and investigate immigration offences. 
We know that this bill will sharpen clarify and strengthen the immigration legislation. Indeed in Waitakere we celebrate the fact that we have one of the most diverse societies within New Zealand as we also see in south Auckland and in fact the greater Auckland area. There will be enhancement and streamlining of the processes of immigration and I will know when I attend citizen ceremonies in Waitakere and see people becoming proud citizens of Waitakere—one of the better areas of New Zealand—that we are recognising and recruiting the cream of people coming into New Zealand. Streamlined processes such as easier visa systems will make it easier to attract and retain those very people we want to attract to our country. It will also allow flexibility to respond quickly to a rapidly changing environment. 
This bill is an enabling bill. It puts in place processes to ensure that New Zealand is up there with a 21st century immigration system. I think that this bill really builds on all the other good policies we have put in place for new immigrants to this country. I am proud of this bill. I think it will be fantastic when it is enacted and I commend it to the House.