Public opinion on immigration

Recent research

This section describes the main findings from two studies on the attitudes of New Zealanders towards immigrants and immigration. The studies were undertaken by academic researchers from the New Settlers Programme at Massey University (Gendall et al 2007)^[40] and the Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research at Victoria University (Ward and Masgoret 2008).^[41]

The Gendall et al (2007) study involved two surveys of New Zealanders' attitudes to immigrants and immigration, the first in 2003 and the second in 2006. The purpose of the second survey was to examine whether attitudes had changed over the 3-year period. Ward and Masgoret (2008) examined attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policy based on a random sample of 2,020 New Zealand households. The latter study provided an international comparison between New Zealand and results from studies in other countries.

Attitudes towards immigrants

Both studies found that New Zealanders' attitudes towards migrants and ethnic diversity were largely positive. Most survey respondents in the Gendall et al (2007) study agreed that immigrants make New Zealanders more open to new ideas and cultures. Ward and Masgoret (2008) found strong endorsement of multiculturalism with 89 percent of respondents agreeing that a society made up of people from different races, religions, and cultures is a good thing. This rating was found to be significantly higher than that in any of the other countries included in the international comparison (see Figure 9).

Both studies found that respondents thought immigrants make a valuable contribution to New Zealand. In Ward and Masgoret (2008), most respondents agreed that immigrants have many qualities they admire. In Gendall et al (2007), nearly half of the respondents thought that immigrants bring skills in short supply to New Zealand and that attracting new immigrants is vital to New Zealand's economic prosperity.

Figure 9: Endorsement of a society made up of people from different races, religions, and cultures in 17 countries

Source: Ward and Masgoret (2008).

Data table for Figure 9

Attitudes towards immigration policy

Gendall et al (2007) found that satisfaction with the immigration system was low. Only 16 percent agreed that the Government is doing a good job of managing applications for immigration to New Zealand, but 19 percent thought that the Government is doing a good job of adjusting immigration policy to meet New Zealand's needs. The majority (78 percent) of respondents agreed that there should be more consultation with the public about New Zealand's immigration policy.

Both studies asked respondents about the level of immigration to New Zealand. In Gendall et al (2007), 42 percent thought the number of immigrants coming to New Zealand should remain the same or increase. Around half of those in Ward and Masgoret (2008) thought the number of immigrants was about right. However, both studies showed that perceptions of some immigrant groups were more favourable than others. Immigrants from countries with Anglo-Celtic backgrounds (such as Great Britain) or where English was the predominant language (such as South Africa) were viewed more favourably than immigrants from non-English-speaking countries.

Determinants of individual attitudes

Both studies found that tertiary-educated respondents had more positive attitudes towards immigrants. Gendall et al (2007) also found that Maori attitudes to immigrants and immigration were less positive than those of non-Maori, and some evidence that attitudes were less positive among respondents living in Auckland than in other areas.

In Ward and Masgoret (2008), more positive attitudes were associated with non-New Zealand-born respondents, and those who spoke a language other than English or Maori. No differences in attitude were found to be related to age, gender, income level, or employment status.

Future research

The Department of Labour's Immigration Survey Monitoring Programme is being developed to provide a comprehensive monitoring base for understanding the experience of all migrants who come to New Zealand, the perspectives of employers, and the impacts of changes in immigration and settlement policy and practice. From 2010, the programme will include a community survey of New Zealanders assessing their attitudes towards immigrants and immigration policy.

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