Paul Spoonley on multiculturalism in New Zealand

Our author Paul Spoonley has urged nations to “acknowledge and celebrate and welcome immigrant communities” in light of huge strengths imparted by migrant communities in New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Labour Government adapted its migration policy in the 1990s to allow migrants into the country if they possessed relevant skills.

The two largest ethnic groups arriving in the country are from China and India. Around 23% of the population of Auckland is now Asian.

Spoonley cites this as a movement towards biculturalism, which is a reason multiculturalism is successful. He commented: “India and China have the two biggest talent pools in the world and we are rightly recruiting from them.

“Immigrants bring skills to Hawke’s Bay but also international connections, so immediately you have an opportunity to grow your international export market through business owners who have those connections.”

New Zealand’s immigration policy, he says, is more successful than Australia and Canada. Unlike these nations, New Zealand not only meets but exceeds its target.

Spoonley also posits an argument for setting regional migration policies, to prevent growth in certain regions from flat-lining: “If the Government isn’t going to do anything more to attract migrants to the regions then perhaps the regions themselves should make a greater effort.”

Related articles:
Superdiversity, social cohesion, and economic benefits, by Paul Spoonley
Skill-based immigration, economic integration, and economic performance, by Abdurrahman B. Aydemir
Using a point system for selecting immigrants, by Massimiliano Tani