\u201cWe can\u2019t unwind that, but no, there will not be unfettered immigration from India. There will only be migrants that add to the value of our country. We are not going to be a dumping ground for people trying to come to New Zealand and set up New Delhi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones said New Zealand does \u201cnot need any more Uber drivers\u201d. <\/p>\n
After further comments, Jones referred to himself as \u201can earthy, humorous, but red-blooded tough New Zealand First politician\u201d. <\/p>\n
He later told reporters at Parliament he would not back down from his concerns over immigration and \u201ca lot of Kiwis are happy I am articulating my anxieties because they have been excluded from a population, immigration debate for 20 years\u201d. <\/p>\n
Shane Jones is the outspoken deputy of NZ First. Photo \/ Mike Scott<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have ended up with people who need us more than we need them. My rhetoric has not even really got off base one.\u201d <\/p>\n
He denied his comments were racist. <\/p>\n
But his leader, Peters, said Jones could have phrased his comments differently. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat Shane Jones was saying about New Zealand First\u2019s principled approach to migration was correct, but he could have expressed himself better,\u201d Peters said in response to questions about the appropriateness of Jones\u2019 comments. <\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand First has always supported labour mobility that benefits our country. A number of our regions and sectors of our economy benefit from targeted migration where skill shortages exist. These migrants come from a broad range of countries, including India.\u201d <\/p>\n
Green Party co-leader Chl\u00f6e Swarbrick said NZ First was \u201cramping up its racist rhetoric\u201d as it \u201creally, really wants the spotlight\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt really, really wants New Zealanders\u2019 attention distracted from all of the awful things this Government had done.\u201d <\/p>\n
Trade Minister Todd McClay said the \u201cgood news\u201d was that \u201cwhatever Mr Jones is concerned about, the FTA does not allow that to happen\u201d. <\/p>\n
NZ First opposes the NZ-India FTA<\/a>, which contains sections relating to mobility. <\/p>\n That includes a temporary visa for 1667 migrants per year in occupations where there is a skills shortage or in an \u201ciconic\u201d profession. The visas last for three years and are capped at 5000 migrants at any one time. <\/p>\n \u201cThe FTA includes a working holiday scheme, with up to 1000 places for young Indians (18 to 30 years old) and the FTA codifies the right for Indian students to work for up to 20 hours a week (within current policy of up to 25 hours),\u201d said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. <\/p>\n \u201cIn addition, eligible students graduating from a New Zealand institution are eligible for a post-study work visa, ranging from two years for Bachelors, up to four years for PhDs.\u201d <\/p>\n Peters has previously said \u201ctens of thousands\u201d of migrants could come to<\/a> New Zealand under the deal, claiming family members could follow the migrants on the temporary work visa. National has disputed Peters\u2019 estimates of the scale of potential immigration. <\/p>\n