Post #3131528

2026-05-14 01:27 UTC

@bluewave_kiwi@mastodon.nz @BobLefridge@mastodon.nz By and large, I agree... However, on the other hand, there is some substance to Act's claim of certain "relatively useless" professions seeing an influx of immigrants - namely, the sudden proliferation of "beauty therapists" (in the form of nail salons in particular) and "bubble tea shops" that have been popping up like wildfire all over town recently. (That said, I do prefer that these go up vs yet more Vape stores, if I had to choose one)

Replies (2)

@colinburgess@mastodon.nz 2026-05-14 01:50

@aligorith@mastodon.nz @bluewave_kiwi@mastodon.nz @BobLefridge@mastodon.nz I would counter that NZ needs immigrants to stem the effects of the exodus to Australia. And of course they need to fix the reasons for that, otherwise immigrants will be joining them once they get their citizenship.

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@bluewave_kiwi@mastodon.nz 2026-05-14 05:16

@aligorith@mastodon.nz @BobLefridge@mastodon.nz ACT and National (and Labour and NZ1) all want to encourage rich people to come to NZ - people who research shows are specifically more selfish and antisocial than average, and who by definition increase inequality, and thus endanger democracy and community. Give me refugees any day. The other genuine concern about our current non-refugee immigration is that a lot of its purpose is to suppress wages. A possible solution would be a rule that no employment-based immigrant can be paid less than $40 / hour or 20% more than the relevant industry average, whichever is higher. #nzpol #immigration #inequality

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