| > It's a privilege to come into this country Oz needs the immigrants or it would be screwed. It isn't a fecking privilege. In NZ ~30% of the population was born overseas. We do it because NZ requires more people of working age - because our demographics are shit and they're becoming deeper shit (aside AU is part of our problem). We need young workers and we bribe them here with lifestyle, money from jobs, and houses for the fortunate. It's a compounding bad debt solution - since those immigrants also get older and will become unaffordable retirees for our country. I think Aus has similar dynamics - but not as badly because Oz is much wealthier than NZ. I'm some years away from retirement age - but the demographics mean that I'm screwed. Everyone will be screwed. If you're fortunate enough to have been able to save for retirement, say goodbye to those savings over time. I expect NZ will start to increase immigration because there's too many undesirable jobs (jobs that NZers don't want to do, or that there simply isn't enough NZers for the jobs). Immigrants work. It is a only a stop-gap solution. Our politicians lack the ability to encourage enough business growth: therefore taxation income can't keep up with NZ government expenses. |