The Government argued that if New Zealand wanted to be accepted as a trading partner with different countries - especially the Asia/Pacific - then New Zealanders had to be prepared to have a variety of people living and doing business here. Therefore, due to the relax immigration policy, large numbers of Asian settler arrived New Zealand. Immigration figures for 1991 to 1996 show that the number of Asian immigrants rose 76 per cent to 173,000. Nowadays, nearly 5 per cent of the populations are Asians. In 1994, 33,000 Asian immigrants were accepted in the space of 12 months. They brought NZ$722.6 million ($355 million) with them (Hartill 2003). The obvious issue is the fact that many recent Asian immigrants are wealthy. Even some of them came straight into the top socio-economic stratum in New Zealand society. .
Most concerns of immigration relate to the economy. The influences are both beneficial and harmful. Migrants may increase unemployment, the large quantity of emigrant enter labor market will result a shortage of work opportunities. The most common complaint is that "migrants are taking our jobs". However, many evidences show the effect of immigration on unemployment is negligible and that migrants create at least as many jobs as they fill. Settlers may increase unemployment in certain regions or among certain occupations during a recession, but this is offset by their raising the overall level of demand, particularly for housing and household-related goods and services. This promotes both a higher level and a wider range of goods and services produced, stimulating the economy and job growth. Immigrations also bring new skills and experience to the workforce. They help to reduce labor shortages for skilled personnel (which keeps labor costs lower); promote exports through language skills, knowledge of and contacts in foreign markets. Skilled migrants also do not incur a cost to government in education and training, and their relative youth - most arrivals are aged between 20 and 39 - means that they pay the taxes that will sustain the ageing population.
