Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
Helen Clark
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Immigration
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John Key
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Labour Party
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National Party
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United Nations
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Winston Peters
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Xenophobia
John Key has set National apart from other political parties; the Herald reports:
Prime Minister John Key laid out the welcome mat for foreigners yesterday and said it was a point of contrast between National and other parties.
"We don't put up the fear factor you see from other political parties about the multicultural society that is emerging in New Zealand," he told more than 300 delegates to National's northern conference at Waipuna Hotel yesterday.
"We welcome tourists that come from overseas; we welcome people that are going to come and study at our schools and universities; we welcome people who want to invest in New Zealand and we welcome people who want to make their home in New Zealand," he said. "And yes, we welcome people who want to buy a home here and raise a family. That's what a multicultural, confident society is about."
New Zealand's future lay in selling things to the rest of the world and the future of the world was about being more connected, he said.
"Do any of us think we are really going to get rich selling things to four and a half million New Zealanders?" Mr Key said.
As we blogged yesterday, it's only a matter of six years since Helen Clark regarded the Labour Party as the natural home for immigrants to Aotearoa. How much things have changed since Miss Clark departed for the greener pastures of the United Nations. Labour is now openly hostile towards immigrants, especially those from China.
New Zealand has always been a country of immigrants; it is part of our heritage. It is sad to see Labour so desperate to stay onside with Winston Peters that immigrants have become their whipping boys.
Labour's continued anti-foreigner rhetoric will cost it votes. There's only room for one redneck party, and Peters has that market cornered.
