Immigration—International Student Policy

Does he agree with the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the way to attract Chinese students is to send them home when they have finished studying, in light of comments made by the previous Minister of Immigration that granting graduate international students a 6-month open work visa would enable them to become excellent candidates for the skilled migrant category?

Pettis Jill Pettis Link to this

The July policy announcements were designed to make it easier for international students, appropriately qualified, to study, work, and live in New Zealand. That is one reason that over 20 percent of qualified international students proceed to residence in this country.

What were the changes that came into effect on 4 July 2005?

In summary, the main changes to student policy were a new guiding statement for student immigration policy to align it better with our international education strategy; limited work opportunities whilst studying, under controlled conditions, including the explicit approval of both schools and parents; and facilitation of the pathway from study to work, which, as I say, has contributed to over 20 percent of highly qualified students proceeding to residence in this country. That assists our goal of attracting the world’s best talent.

Will the Minister then be meeting with his colleague the Minister of Foreign Affairs to convince him that to send Chinese students directly home when they have finished studying—thereby effectively barring those graduates from applying for a 6-month open work permit—is in direct contradiction to the Labour Government’s policy?

I meet regularly with that Minister, but the member may care to read again the terms of the enhanced confidence and supply agreement, which would indicate that that Minister is perfectly free to express views on matters outside his specific portfolio.

Is the Minister’s department now expecting a sudden influx of applications from Chinese students coming here, in light of the new-found support from Mr Peters and despite him previously supporting the view that Chinese students were responsible for “theft, fraud, fighting, assaults, intimidation, vehicle crashes, disorder, domestic stabbings, and a sideline of extortion and weapon carrying”?

This Government welcomes qualified students from China as it welcomes those from other countries. We believe that international education has an important role to play in boosting not only New Zealand’s economy but our international connections and productivity.

Does the Minister believe that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is the right person to help reverse the 11 percent reduction in the number of student visas issued, given that Mr Peters has said: “The Government should stop this idiocy and educate our own people, and stop trying to make out that this level of imported student is some sort of salvation for New Zealand’s economy.”?

It may come as a surprise to that member that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is not responsible for issuing student visas—or any other kind of visa.

Is the Minister aware from the briefing paper to the incoming Minister of Immigration that there is close linkage between policy development and cooperation between the New Zealand Immigration Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade—and hence the Minister of Foreign Affairs?

Yes, and I am glad that the member has bothered to read the briefing paper for incoming Ministers. She will support the Government’s view that student immigration policy is there to support the national interest, and not the interests of individual consultants.

I seek leave of the House to table two documents. The first is a New Zealand Herald article dated 15 November 2005.

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.

The second document, which was tabled by Paul Swain. details changes to international students policy, where the Government policy is to create more opportunity for international students to stay behind after they have completed their study.

Henare Hon Tau Henare Link to this

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. During the questioning by Pansy Wong, I found that that lot of people over there gave an absolutely disgusting display of behaviour because of Pansy Wong’s—[ Interruption] Absolutely! I want to suggest to you, Madam Speaker, that you do something about that, because I think it was an absolutely shocking display of what some could call racist behaviour—

Hon Member

Mocking.

Henare Hon Tau Henare Link to this

—mocking behaviour. I take huge offence at that. Some of those people, who are supposedly descendants of English people, cannot even pronounce English properly. I think that this House should take note that members need to show a modicum of decorum in this place.

Cullen Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this

I am sure the member makes a fair point, but he needs to know that a number of his colleagues in front of him were also smiling at one or two comments. Many of us know that Ms Wong sometimes has trouble with some words, but the response was not meant in any kind of derogatory form, at all.

I thank members, and I think it is a useful reminder from both members who spoke on the point of order that this House should conduct itself according to the Standing Orders, which includes having decorum and respect for each other.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker.

Is this a new point of order? I have already ruled on the other.

The point of order you ruled on concerns me personally. I am not aware of which part of my question the Minister of Immigration could not understand. So I would be delighted if members on the other side of the House would give me the courtesy of raising those difficulties in person and pointing out what their problem is. I am not too sure what gestures they were making that caused offence to my colleague.