Act leader David Seymour arrives in Mission Bay to speak to media about his new campaign policies. Photo / Dean Purcell
The party’s immigration plan includes:
1. Serious offenders deported no matter how long they have been in New Zealand
The coalition is extending the time a resident visa holder who has been convicted of a serious offence (carrying sentences of 10 years or more) can be liable for deportation from 10 to up to 20 years.
Act wants this to be changed again to allow these resident visa holders to be deported no matter how long they have been here.
2. Skill categories expire every year
Act wants the skill categories for which employers can hire immigrants on work visas to expire every year and require those employers to show “up-to-date evidence of demand” for the category to stay open.
3. Five-year welfare stand-down
The party will campaign on introducing a five-year stand-down period for all residence class visa holders to access social welfare. This would bar these people from accessing payments such as Jobseeker support or accommodation supplements for their first five years in New Zealand.
4. $6 daily fee for temporary work visas
Act would introduce a $6 per day infrastructure surcharge on temporary work visas, on top of existing charges, which would be considered a migrant’s contribution to New Zealand’s infrastructure. The fee would be imposed from day one.
5. Stronger English language requirements
Basic English language requirements would be extended to all accredited employer work visas but still permit lower standards for seasonal workers.
6. Enforce the rules
Act wants to establish a dedicated overstayer enforcement unit under Immigration New Zealand. Platform employers such as Uber and DoorDash would be required to verify and report work rights. Employers who facilitated overstaying would lose their accreditation.
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.