Edges of Empire: The Politics of Immigration in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1980-2020
by Francis L. Collins, Alan Gamlen and Neil Vallelly
With the growing controversy and protest about immigration, especially in the northern hemisphere, this seems a timely contribution from academic specialists. While migration issues in New Zealand are ever-present, we haven’t quite seen them reach the crescendo of protest that has emerged in Europe. Indeed, since the infamous ‘Dawn raids’ of the 1970s, successive governments have moved from a discriminatory policy to what the authors call ‘economic multiculturalism’.
So, while the sub-title of the book refers to the politics of immigration, the substance is really about the policymakers, and primarily in the role of the Minister of Immigration. The authors are careful to set out the political context for the changes in policy, and while specific controversies are addressed – remember the long running saga of the Algerian MP Ahmed Zaoui – there is more detail on the moves to a points systems; and to specific policies such as the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, that are essential to the economic linkages with the Pacific nations. Of course, the multicultural basis for immigration policy also has to be reconciled with Māori perspectives as well.
However, there are issues for a more ‘liberal’ immigration policy, especially where the emphasis is really on the economic aspect. The policy no longer discriminates between countries and the ethnic background of migrants, but the focus on the economic credentials of the migrant applicants is problematic. The authors choose to discuss this using the framing concept of ‘Neoliberalism’, an overarching theory that explains the economic basis of policy across government, post-1984. There is a conceptual problem with this approach, and its specificity for immigration policy issues, in assuming it was actually a blueprint for the systematic change that academic critics describe.
In particular, if the change in macroeconomic policy was as inexorable as the authors seem to believe, there would seem to be very little scope for action by individual politicians of any party. This is seen in the argument that neoliberalism is embedded in the policy institutions, and therefore everyone involved becomes a ‘neoliberal’. However, this assumption is not such a detriment to the book, when it focusses on interviews with successive ministers in the Immigration portfolio. The interviews provide lengthy quotes (though not referenced) which suggest ministers did have agency.
Almost all of the relevant ministers, apart from two, participated in the interview and obviously got their views across. This included some of the former ministers who practised in the immigration field after retiring from politics, and some even got themselves in legal difficulty after pursuing that career change. Indeed, these legal cases not only affected the politicians, but certain immigration departmental officials in this period also made career-ending mistakes. One notable participant is the late Aussie Malcolm, whom the authors repeatedly refer to as Anthony, and who has been the subject of serious criminal allegations. Nonetheless, he provides the most colourful comment, in referring to the shift to an ‘economic’ policy basis as “total Friedmanite bullshit.” While interesting, the problem with this view is that it assumes that the policy is always based on economic doctrine.
by Francis L. Collins, Alan Gamlen and Neil Vallelly
With the growing controversy and protest about immigration, especially in the northern hemisphere, this seems a timely contribution from academic specialists. While migration issues in New Zealand are ever-present, we haven’t quite seen them reach the crescendo of protest that has emerged in Europe. Indeed, since the infamous ‘Dawn raids’ of the 1970s, successive governments have moved from a discriminatory policy to what the authors call ‘economic multiculturalism’.
So, while the sub-title of the book refers to the politics of immigration, the substance is really about the policymakers, and primarily in the role of the Minister of Immigration. The authors are careful to set out the political context for the changes in policy, and while specific controversies are addressed – remember the long running saga of the Algerian MP Ahmed Zaoui – there is more detail on the moves to a points systems; and to specific policies such as the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, that are essential to the economic linkages with the Pacific nations. Of course, the multicultural basis for immigration policy also has to be reconciled with Māori perspectives as well.
However, there are issues for a more ‘liberal’ immigration policy, especially where the emphasis is really on the economic aspect. The policy no longer discriminates between countries and the ethnic background of migrants, but the focus on the economic credentials of the migrant applicants is problematic. The authors choose to discuss this using the framing concept of ‘Neoliberalism’, an overarching theory that explains the economic basis of policy across government, post-1984. There is a conceptual problem with this approach, and its specificity for immigration policy issues, in assuming it was actually a blueprint for the systematic change that academic critics describe.
In particular, if the change in macroeconomic policy was as inexorable as the authors seem to believe, there would seem to be very little scope for action by individual politicians of any party. This is seen in the argument that neoliberalism is embedded in the policy institutions, and therefore everyone involved becomes a ‘neoliberal’. However, this assumption is not such a detriment to the book, when it focusses on interviews with successive ministers in the Immigration portfolio. The interviews provide lengthy quotes (though not referenced) which suggest ministers did have agency.
Almost all of the relevant ministers, apart from two, participated in the interview and obviously got their views across. This included some of the former ministers who practised in the immigration field after retiring from politics, and some even got themselves in legal difficulty after pursuing that career change. Indeed, these legal cases not only affected the politicians, but certain immigration departmental officials in this period also made career-ending mistakes. One notable participant is the late Aussie Malcolm, whom the authors repeatedly refer to as Anthony, and who has been the subject of serious criminal allegations. Nonetheless, he provides the most colourful comment, in referring to the shift to an ‘economic’ policy basis as “total Friedmanite bullshit.” While interesting, the problem with this view is that it assumes that the policy is always based on economic doctrine.
Review by S A Boyce
Title: Edges of Empire: The Politics of Immigration in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1980-2020
Authors: Francis L. Collins, Alan Gamlen and Neil Vallelly
Publisher: Auckland University Press
ISBN: 9781776711123
RRP: $49.99
Available: bookshops
Authors: Francis L. Collins, Alan Gamlen and Neil Vallelly
Publisher: Auckland University Press
ISBN: 9781776711123
RRP: $49.99
Available: bookshops
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