Grey Power is being criticised for calling on Auckland Council to review the number of Asian immigrants in the city.

As part of a submission for Auckland Council’s 30-year plan, the lobby group asked for a forum to look at the changing face of Auckland and the impact of different cultures.

Grey Power’s submission is based on population forecasts which suggest the Asian community will be the dominant ethnic group in Auckland by 2040.

Auckland regional director Bill Rayner says the proposal is not meant to offend anyone, but many of its members want the country’s population to remain Pacific-based and not have such a large Asian component.

How sad that a group which purports to seek a fair go for older New Zealanders, exposes itself as having a racist agenda.

Immigration should be colour-blind. Individuals should be assessed against criteria such as education, skills, wealth and ability to settle and assimilate in New Zealand. When a group like Grey Power says they want fewer Asians immigrating to New Zealand, what they are saying is that no matter what their individual qualities, prospective immigrants should be ruled out on the basis of their race or ethnicity.

There are legitimate debates about the pace of immigration, as excessive immigration can strain infrastructure. But that debate should be about the overall level of immigration to NZ, not about keeping one ethnicity out or down.

Don’t they understand it is all the fault of the sun and the full moon?

It has been obvious for some time they would not meet that target.

So they have come up with a solution – to import Asian police officers from Singapore.

Absolutely priceless!

Who gets to tell Peter Brown?

• February 1996
• February 1999
• 2002
• May and July 2005
• April 2008

Hmmn, what is the common factor.

The EMA Northern have condemned (hat tip: The Hive) NZ First and Brown:

Comments by New Zealand First MP Peter Brown are racial stereotyping of the worst sort, says Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

“It was post war migrants like Mr Brown who brought here the bigotry of the British class system and a rabid form of unionism,” Mr Thompson said.

“Mr Brown should stop being hypocritical.

And the Auckland Chamber of Commerce weighs in:

“Asian New Zealanders, and those overseas, should see this for what it is: a pathetic piece of political posturing by a minority party.

Hon Chris Carter:

 ”I think he’s absolutely being racist,” Carter said. “He shouldn’t be condemning people because of their race or culture.”

Hon Clayton Cosgrove:

 Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove told NZPA Mr Brown’s comments were ironic, given that he was a “native born British chap”.

He hoped Mr Brown did not “take his own advice” and return to the UK.

We wait to hear what the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Leader of New Zealand First has to say on the issue.

On a slightly related note, it reminds me of a further Cactus Kate story from Tuesday night. As we were heading along Blair Street, we ran into Keith Ng. Cactus looks at Keith somewhat warily when I mention he blogs for Public Address. I then mention he won a Press Council complaint against Deborah Coddington over her Asian crime story, and Cactus literally leaps forward and embraces Keith in full bear hug, finally releasing him after thanking him for his work.  It was very very funny.

New Zealand First deputy leader Peter Brown has attacked immigration policies due to the estimated increase in the Asian population. …
The Asian population here is set to rise to 790,000 by 2026.

Mr Brown says he is particularly concerned that Asians will outnumber Maori.

He says “it is a bit rich when the original inhabitants get shoved further down the pile because successive governments keep throwing open the doors to this country.”

At this point I should point out Mr Brown is an immigrant.

If he is worried about the original inhabitants getting outnumbered and shoved further down the pile, then he could do his bit to help and return to the UK.

Or is he saying it is a bad thing only when the yellow immigrants are outnumbering Maori, and the white immigrants are okay?