28 Jul 2017

Michael Woodhouse justifies migrant rules despite wrath

From Morning Report, 7:20 am on 28 July 2017

The government has watered down its new immigration rules. Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says consultation feedback caused the change.

"Everybody who has a genuine shortage of local labour can continue to bring in a labour market-tested person on a work visa, but the dairy industry is worried they'll train a person up and they'll be sent home after three years. This will help that," he told Morning Report. 

But Federated Farmers spokesperson Chris Lewis told Morning Report local workers are hard to get. "If all the skilled Kiwis are already in jobs, what can you do?"