It’s a worry when migrants are a political football. Every single person in this country is a descendant of, or is actually, a migrant. It is essential that we get immigration right. In Stuff this week they reported:
Migrants just remember what happened more than a year ago when a “once in a generation” lockdown and global pandemic changed their lives forever.
During lockdown Government ministers were able to provide few details on what would happen to these migrants, but told them to be patient. Other politicians started mumbling about double-digit unemployment and calling for migrants to “go home”.
A lot of migrants kept their jobs, but some didn’t. The unemployed were left out of work, unable to legally change jobs, ineligible for welfare benefits, and queueing for food as their bank accounts were whittled down to single digit or negative balances.
Chris McKeen/Stuff
Migrant workers have been protesting about a number of immigration issues up and down the country.
The unluckier ones were outside New Zealand on summer holidays when the borders closed and faced prolonged, soon to be permanent, separation from their families and friends. Family and cultural heirlooms that were left behind like wedding jewellery, graduation photos and marriage certificates were chucked into landfill, or sold off to thrift stores by landlords who started to realise their migrant tenants were never coming back.
Our country never carried the warning most city car parks do: take your valuables with you.
Ever since they were locked out of the country this group of exiled migrants have flooded politicians with complaints, ruining the carefully curated social media feeds of many a Government MP.
It is important that the Government is pressured to get immigration right. The Labour Party has a proud history with immigration. One of their impressive Ministers in the past is our current Mayor. Here’s an article to reflect on over immigration. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/125173118/a-once-in-a-generation-opportunity-to-throw-migrant-workers-under-the-bus.
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