New Zealand Insight June 2017
Immigration Overview
Views towards immigration - all On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 means you think immigration into New Zealand is an entirely positive thing, and 0 means you think immigration into New Zealand is an entirely negative thing, how would you describe your views towards immigration? Total positive: 4% 2 41 2 26 7 Negative (0-) 4 to 6 Unsure Positive (7-9) 10 - Entirely positive
Views towards immigration citizens vs migrants On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 means you think immigration into New Zealand is an entirely positive thing, and 0 means you think immigration into New Zealand is an entirely negative thing, how would you describe your views towards immigration? Total positive: 1% NZ citizens 25 42 2 25 6 Total positive: 65% Migrants 8 24 41 24 Base: all respondents, split by citizenship status 4
Increasing immigration: better or worse for NZ? Overall, do you think having an increasing number of people of many different races, ethnic groups, and nationalities in our country makes New Zealand...? 18-29 0-44 44 51 19 16 0 4 45-59 4 24 8 4 4 40 60+ 4 1 2 4 National 4 20 5 Labour 41 2 2 2 Greens NZ First 19 55 42 1 7 2 0 2 A better place to live It doesn't make much difference A worse place to live Unsure 5
Most important issue word clouds June 2014 6
Most important issue word clouds June 2015 7
Most important issue word clouds June 2016 8
Most important issue word clouds April 2017 9
Do we talk about immigration enough? Do you think the issue of immigration has been discussed in New Zealand too much, too little or the right amount in the last year or so? NZ Citizen 12 2 11 5 1 Migrant 25 28 15 2 51 24 National 17 0 7 46 Labour 9 24 10 57 11 Greens 12 20 12 56 NZ First 9 21 5 65 Too much The right amount Unsure Too little 10
Key attitudes on immigration On a 1 to 5 scale where 1 means strongly agree and 5 means strongly disagree, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements: It s hard to discuss immigration without sounding racist 57 21 19 Too many people who come to live here from overseas don t seem to have a good enough grasp of English 56 26 4 14 To be truly a New Zealander you have to be born in New Zealand 0 16 51 Agree (1+2) Unsure Disagree (4+5) 11
Do true New Zealanders have to be born here? On a 1 to 5 scale where 1 means strongly agree and 5 means strongly disagree, how much do you agree or disagree that: to be truly a New Zealander you have to be born in New Zealand? National 27 20 1 52 Labour 15 2 49 Greens 16 10 1 7 NZ First 41 18 2 9 Agree (1+2) Unsure Disagree (4+5) Base: all respondents, split by vote 12
Requirements for English proficiency To what extent do you think that a good grasp of English should be a prerequisite for moving here indefinitely: Which is closest to your view? 27 7 People should not need to have any English proficiency when they arrive People should have basic English when they arrive 66 People should be fluent in English when they arrive 1
Key attitudes on immigration On a 1 to 5 scale where 1 means strongly agree and 5 means strongly disagree, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements It s hard to discuss immigration without sounding racist 57 21 19 Too many people who come to live here from overseas don t seem to have a good enough grasp of English 56 26 4 14 To be truly a New Zealander you have to be born in New Zealand 0 16 51 People who want to live here should have to declare their commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi? 28 22 7 4 Agree (1+2) Unsure Disagree (4+5) 14
How welcoming are we? Generally speaking, how welcoming do you think New Zealand is for new immigrants? 8 Not welcoming (0-) 49 40 4 to 6 Unsure Welcoming (7-10) 15
Can NZ accommodate population growth? On a scale of 0-10, how prepared do you think New Zealand is to accommodate population growth over the next few years (from both immigrants and citizens) in the following areas: Housing 68 2 2 6 Transport 5 2 2 1 The health system 52 2 1 Jobs 45 6 17 The environment 42 6 19 Schools 8 41 4 17 Not prepared (0-) 4 to 6 Unsure Prepared (7-10) 16
Can NZ s housing cope with population growth? On a scale of 0-10, how prepared do you think New Zealand is to accommodate population growth over the next few years (from both immigrants and citizens) in: Housing National 59 2 1 8 Labour 75 18 1 6 Greens 79 18 NZ First 86 12 1 Not prepared (0-) Neutral Unsure Prepared (7-10) Base: all respondents, spit by vote 17
Immigration Policy Settings
Are current immigration settings fair? Thinking about NZ s current overall immigration settings, are they fair on: Fair on New Zealand citizens 22 0 12 6 Fair on New migrants 4 6 16 14 Fair (1+2) Unsure Unfair (4+5) 19
Immigration cap - awareness Do you think that New Zealand has a cap on the total number of people from overseas who are allowed to come and live here? 0 Yes 55 Unsure 15 No
Caps on immigration Do you think that New Zealand has a cap on the total number of people from overseas who are allowed to come and live here? 18-29 5 16 2 0-44 54 16 0 0 45-59 60+ 52 60 16 11 2 29 55 National 61 12 27 15 Labour Greens 5 54 12 15 5 2 NZ First 45 16 9 Yes Unsure No
Caps on immigration - preferences Should NZ have a cap on... Total immigration Overseas students Tourist numbers 9 12 5 19 5 10 79 11 70 Yes Unsure No 22
Work visas If you were forced to make a choice between the following two policy options for work visas, which would you prefer: Issuing fewer work visas but with more rights to remain in New Zealand and more access to social security Allowing more work visas to be issued but with more limited rights to remain in New Zealand and less access to social security 18-29 0-44 48 54 52 46 45-59 6 64 40 60+ 24 76 60 National 28 72 Labour 45 55 Greens 6 7 NZ First 27 7 2
Number of permanent arrivals Thinking about the number of people coming into New Zealand, what do you think is the total number of permanent and long-term arrivals every year? 75,000 + 50k - 75k 19 19 25k - 50k 10k - 25k 17 17 < 10k 10 Unsure 18 Year to April 2017 permanent and long-term arrivals: 129,800 24
Perceptions of where migrants come from In terms of their contribution to NZ s yearly total number of migrants, please rank the following ten locations from most to least (Top three) China Pacific Islands India The United Kingdom Australia Philippines South Africa USA Germany France 2 4 7 19 21 6 9 51 5 66 25
Perceptions of current refugee quota Refugees, as opposed to immigrants, are generally fleeing armed conflict or economic collapses or political persecution. What do you think New Zealand s current maximum is in terms of accepting refugees? 0 25 27 26 2 24 20 15 10 5 0 Under 750 750-1000 1,000-10,000 Over 10,000 Actual quota: 750 (increasing to 1,000 in 2018) 26
Preferred refugee quota changes The current maximum intake of refugees is 750 people per year, increasing to 1,000 in 2018. Which of these statements is closest to your own view? 24 19 28 9 1 6 This number should be less than 750 The amount of refugees should stay at 750 Increasing to 1,000 refugees is about right This number should be increased to 1,500 This number should be increased to more than 1,500 Unsure 27
Permanent Residence and Work Visa approvals Last year s 50,000 approvals for Permanent Residence seems: Last year s 200,000 approvals for Work Visas seems: 7 4 6 9 9 51 5 Too low About right Too high Unsure 28
Permanent Residence and Work Visa approvals Last year s 50,000 approvals for Permanent Residence seems too high : Last year s 200,000 approvals for Work Visas seems too high : National 49 National 51 Labour 51 Labour 55 Greens 9 Greens 41 NZ First 77 NZ First 80 Base: all respondents, split by vote 29
Permanent vs work visa balance In 1997, the number of permanent residence visas and temporary work visas was roughly the same. By 2016, the number of temporary work visas was four times the number of permanent residence visas. This means that an increasing proportion of immigrants have no guaranteed right to remain in New Zealand, no access to welfare benefits, and restricted access to education and healthcare. Overall, do you see this change in immigration as a positive development? 0 24 12 4 Positive (1+2) Unsure Negative (4+5) 0
Support for banning overseas buyers Only New Zealand residents and citizens should be able to purchase New Zealand property 18-29 51 19 7 2 17 0-44 45-59 65 64 18 17 15 16 4 60+ 62 19 16 18 61 National Labour 5 65 20 18 24 14 Greens 66 2 5 6 NZ First 8 11 1 6 Agree (1+2) Unsure Disagree (4+5) 1
Paying for citizenship How strongly do you agree with the following statements? All migrants who want to become citizens here should have to undergo the same citizenship procedures, irrespective of how wealthy they are 78 8 11 Investing ten million dollars or more in NZ over a three-year period should qualify potential migrants for immediate residence here 15 22 9 55 The Minister of Immigration should have the power to automatically grant citizenship to very wealthy non-resident people 8 12 6 74 Agree (1+2) Unsure Disagree (4+5) 2
Should there be Māori consultation Do you think New Zealand s Treaty obligations should require consultation with Māori on immigration policy? Yes 4 Unsure 51 No 15
Support for traditional practices Generally do you think immigrants to New Zealand should have to abandon traditional cultural practices that many New Zealanders find wrong or offensive or do you think that they should be able to continue those practices as long as they are legal? 18-29 24 8 69 0-44 45-59 26 6 7 68 60 60+ 47 4 50 61 6 National Labour 28 40 5 4 67 56 Greens 14 6 80 NZ First 44 6 50 Abandon traditional practices New Zealanders find wrong or offensive Unsure Be able to continue those practices as long as they are legal 4
Banning the Burqa those who said yes The Burqa is a piece of clothing worn by some Muslim women to cover parts of their body. Do you support banning the wearing of burqas in New Zealand in general? All 40 Male Female 7 44 18-29 0-44 45-59 60+ 2 2 45 56 5
Yes to banning the Burqa What about in the following instances? In banks 72 In courts for witnesses 66 In schools 50 ; includes those who supported banning outright 6
Arguments for immigration Regardless of your overall views, using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 means you strongly agree and 5 strongly disagree how strongly do you agree with the following statements? Immigrants make New Zealand a much more interesting and diverse place to live 51 25 4 20 Immigrants undertake menial low paid jobs that New Zealanders won't do 47 2 7 2 Immigration is important for taking part in the global community 45 29 5 21 Immigrants provide skills we need to build our economy 45 28 5 22 The food is much better 7 1 8 24 Many new immigrants make substantial investments in the New Zealand economy 5 0 12 2 High levels of immigration in recent years have kept the New Zealand economy growing strongly while 4 0 1 2 Even if immigrants have forced up house prices more New Zealanders are winners from that than losers. 18 24 9 49 Agree (1+2) Unsure Disagree (4+5) 7
Arguments for immigration Regardless of your overall views, using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 means you strongly agree and 5 strongly disagree how strongly do you agree with the following statements. (agree; 1+2) Overall positive about immigration Overall negative about immigration Make NZ more interesting 75 Take jobs Nzers won't do 40 Important for global community 69 The food is much better 26 Provides skills 67 Makes NZ more interesting 24 8
Arguments against immigration Regardless of your overall views, using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 means you strongly agree and 5 strongly disagree how strongly do you agree with the following statements. The demand from immigrants for housing is a major factor in forcing house prices in Auckland and other hot spots 61 20 6 1 New Zealand infrastructure just cannot cope with the current levels of immigration 56 22 7 15 Immigrants often all go to live in one suburb creating divisions between New Zealanders 45 25 9 21 The willingness of some immigrants to work for low wages and in poor conditions drives down wages and working 42 2 9 26 There is a lot of abuse of the requirements immigrants are meant to meet before coming to New Zealand 8 27 20 15 High levels of immigration increases the threat of terrorism in New Zealand 6 25 8 1 Current levels of immigration threaten the Kiwi way of life 6 24 6 4 The high numbers of immigrants here sometimes leave me feeling like this isn't really my country any more 5 20 5 40 Immigration has led to higher levels of organised crime and more corruption in New Zealand 0 24 1 2 Agree (1+2) Unsure Disagree (4+5) 9
Arguments against immigration Regardless of your overall views, using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 means you strongly agree and 5 strongly disagree how strongly do you agree with the following statements. (agree; 1+2) Overall positive about immigration Overall negative about immigration Pushes up house prices 44 Pushes up house prices 85 Infrastructure cannot cope 40 Infrastructure cannot cope 8 Lowers wages and working conditions 0 Feels like NZ isn t our country any more 75 40
Most polarising arguments against immigration Negative about immigration agreement positive about immigration agreement Feels like NZ isn t our country any more 61 Threaten the Kiwi way of life 59 More organise crime and corruption Create divisions between New Zealanders 46 45 Increases the threat of terrorism 44 41
Methodology Results in this report are based upon questions asked in a stand-alone UMR online survey. The survey was a nationally representative sample of 1000 New Zealanders, 18 years of age and over. To get better accuracy amongst immigrants, oversampling was performed to get a total sub-sample of n=150. The full sample was weighted to ensure immigrants were not over represented in the overall results. The survey was conducted from 16 th to 21 st May 2017. The margin of error for sample size of 1000 for a 50% figure at the 95% confidence level is ±.1% 42