Time to stop parental visas

The current parent immigration policy must go.

It does not make any economic and financial sense.

Immigration New Zealand defines a family’s ‘Centre of Gravity as “the number of their adult children lawfully and permanently in New Zealand being equal to or greater than those in any other single country.’

This definition makes it eligible for nearly every immigrant from China to sponsor his or her parent because of the country’s one-child policy.

Most countries with generation Y parents would fall within this bracket with the smaller nuclear family setup.

It hardly comes as a surprise that Auckland’s Asian population is projected to hit 400,000 within seven years, representing 51% increase by 2016.

Migrants in the older age bracket add to our healthcare and socio-economic costs.

Studies indicate that as a nation we cannot afford such costs.

Additionally, many immigrants are sponsoring their parents so that they can act as baby sitters for their children. 

We have heard many stories of elderly people abused and abandoned by their sons or daughters, as their services would not be required when grandchildren grow up or leave to live overseas. 

As taxpayers, you and I pay for their care.

This peculiar policy is making New Zealand a rest home haven for many. 

In fact, no one over the age of 50 should be able to migrate to this country. 

People under the age of 43 cannot migrate to Australia on their own and for parents, there is an unattainable bonded waiting list (with queues up to 20 years).

However, parents of New Zealand citizens should be given long term permanent visitors or work visas. Their sponsor should bear all their health costs. They could perhaps take out insurance policies, arranged through Immigration New Zealand.

Naturally, they will not be eligible for any social benefits.

Those who do not quality for health insurance should be brought under a bond scheme, as in Australia.

These are radical suggestions but radical changes are required to make us smarter, faster, and fitter to get up with the play with the rest of the world.

Hari Gopal is our new writer ‘under cover.’ He intends to excite, provoke, anger and make readers think. He is ‘colour blind’ and is beyond religious and other afflictions. He is however  keen to absolve Indian Newslink, its editor and management of all responsibility in respect of the reactions that his articles may enjoy or suffer. We are not allowed to reveal his identity but you could write to him at hari.gopal@hotmail.com. You could also Facebook him.