More people move to New Zealand on temporary visas

"(New Zealand Press Association Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Wellington, Jan 16 NZPA - Latest migration statistics show the number of people coming to New Zealand on temporary permits and later taking residency is on the rise.

The Immigration Service said the ``suck it and see'' approach was leading to more successful settlement, the New Zealand Herald reported today."

House prices surge ahead | BUSINESS | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

New Zealand house values posted their highest rate of growth in 2005 in December, reflecting a buoyant property market, government agency Quotable Value says.

The Quotable Value house price index rose 15.8% in the year to December, rising from 15% the previous month and 14.5% in October.

'We are still seeing increasing levels of growth in property values across most areas of the country, particularly in regional areas which continue to offer affordable housing and investment options,' QV spokeswoman Glenda Whitehead says."

The Reserve Bank, citing concerns over inflation pressures stemming from the housing sector, raised interest rates in December for the second consecutive time to 7.25%.

I have to wonder if this is the boom before the bust for New Zealand.

New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz: Foreign students getting 'free education' says MP

New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz: Foreign students getting 'free education' says MP: "Foreign students are getting a free education courtesy of New Zealand taxpayers by manipulating the immigration system, National Party immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says.

Dr Smith yesterday asked immigration officials at a select committee hearing whether they were aware of 'a trend' for former fee-paying students to gain residency.

He said at one Auckland school, 23 per cent of the foreign student roll had switched to free education in the past 12 months, and he knew of similar examples from a further nine schools in the city.

He cited a case in which the father of three children lived in Nigeria but had 'somehow obtained residency' and now paid nothing for his children's education, which had formerly cost the family $21,000 a year.

He said the situation smacked of 'a scam'."

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Visit the Sumner village webcam and find out for yourself. It is updated every minute so you can see what the weather is like in Christchurch. You will see, it doesnt always shine!

Scoop: 23 November 2005 - Questions And Answers

Scoop: 23 November 2005 - Questions And Answers: "Immigration?International Student Policy

12. PANSY WONG (National) to the Minister of Immigration: Will he be making any changes to the international student policy, which came into effect on 4 July 2005; if so, what changes will be made?

Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration): I have no such intention at this time.

Pansy Wong: 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?"

BBC NEWS | Programmes | Crossing Continents | New Zealand embroiled in race row

All is not well in New Zealand. There are deep seated historical land right battles still furiously being fought today, it is holding back New Zealands progress and taking a lot of time in parliment.

Hesketh Henry?Professional and Human

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