From Stuff.

Brash calls for core NZ values
29 July 2006
By HAYDON DEWES and REBECCA PALMER

National leader Don Brash has sounded warnings about immigrants who do not share New Zealand’s core values, echoing comments from Australia that have inflamed ethnic tensions there.

The speech has put immigration back on the political agenda but has been criticised as pejorative and divisive. It has also caused disquiet among some in Dr Brash’s caucus who fear it will derail attempts to broaden the party’s appeal.

Dr Brash told an Auckland conference on migration and investment yesterday that New Zealand had to be cautious about accepting immigrants that don’t share its “bedrock values”.

“We should not welcome those who want to live in New Zealand but reject core aspects of New Zealand culture.”

He defined bedrock values as an acceptance of democracy and the rule of law, religious and personal freedom, and legal equality of the sexes. He did not say who was not accepting them but “if you don’t accept these fundamentals then New Zealand isn’t the place for you”.

He accepted an immigration programme was necessary when the country was experiencing a net loss of Kiwis overseas, but urged a more “disciplined” approach. National would expect immigrants to have a good command of English, or be willing to learn, and to be young enough to pay taxes before receiving a pension or wealthy enough to cover their own health and income in retirement.

Diversity was to be celebrated, but there could be too much of a good thing.

“(It) is a bit like red wine. A certain amount is good for one’s health; too much too quickly alters your personality and can be thoroughly bad.”

His comments echo a speech this week by Australian Treasurer Peter Costello who suggested more immigration would “change the composition of our population and raise concerns about social dislocation”.

That provoked an outcry from Australian minority leaders, who condemned the arguments as designed to incite “false panic”.

Mr Costello also encouraged Australians to breed more rather than risk an altered society, an idea Dr Brash seemed to support.

“I’ve done my bit,” he told his audience, referring to his three children, but acknowledged some immigration would still be needed.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe described Dr Brash’s view on immigrants as “pejorative” and “insulting”.

“I challenge Dr Brash to name the communities that don’t meet our bedrock values. If he won’t do that, he’s a coward.”

Federation of Ethnic Councils president Pancha Narayanan said Dr Brash seemed to be “trying to attract the Winston Peters vote to National”.

Though Dr Brash raised some good points, he seemed to be advocating assimilation – “a completely failed model”. Mr Narayanan questioned whether New Zealand culture could be defined and did not think it was possible to define “what too much diversity is” through immigration policy.

Federation of Islamic Associations president Javed Khan said he agreed with several aspects of the speech but detected an undertone suggesting “white, English-speaking” immigrants were more welcome.

“He has stopped short of saying, ‘They should look the same as us’.”

Auckland University Associate Professor Manying Ip said Dr Brash’s speech suggested some had a more legitimate claim than others. “It is still ‘othering’ groups of people”.