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"Flipped the skill level": Stanford defends net migration reduction

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 5 May 2026, 8:01am
Photo / Mark Mitchell
Photo / Mark Mitchell

"Flipped the skill level": Stanford defends net migration reduction

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 5 May 2026, 8:01am

The Government claims its tightened up immigration settings since coming into power.  

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says since she got the job, net migration's dropped from 135 thousand to around 24 thousand. 

She told Mike Hosking 70% of migrants are now high-skilled and 30% are low-skilled – a reversal from a few years ago. 

She says over the last two years they've built proper risk management and verification and introduced English language requirements.

Stanford also says deportations are also at a five year high, as they’re taking a hard-line approach on anyone who's overstaying or undertaking criminal behaviour.  

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