The recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand, designed to boost economic ties, has unexpectedly become a focal point of immigration tension. While the pact opens a significant temporary employment pathway for Indian professionals, it has drawn sharp criticism from within New Zealand's coalition government, highlighting a growing debate over foreign workers.
What the India-New Zealand Trade Deal Offers
Central to the agreement is a new temporary employment visa pathway for Indian citizens in skilled occupations. New Zealand will provide an annual quota of 5,000 visas under this scheme, with a maximum stay duration of up to three years. This initiative aims to strengthen workforce mobility and services trade between the two nations.
The covered professions are a blend of traditional Indian skills and high-demand sectors. Specific roles include AYUSH practitioners, yoga instructors, Indian chefs, and music teachers. The pathway also extends to critical fields like information technology, engineering, healthcare, education, and construction.
Furthermore, the deal includes enhanced opportunities for Indian students and graduates. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, announcing the details on Monday, 22 December, stated that graduates in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or post-graduate courses will be eligible for four-year work visas. Students completing bachelor's degrees with honours will qualify for a three-year work visa. Additionally, New Zealand will offer two-year work visas to Indian students going to the country for further studies.
Political Opposition and Immigration Concerns
Despite the finalisation of the proposal, the FTA faces a significant political hurdle in New Zealand. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has publicly criticised the agreement, calling it “neither fair nor free.” He warned that his party, New Zealand First, which holds eight seats in the 123-member Parliament, will oppose the deal when it is presented for parliamentary approval.
Peters, whose party is part of the ruling coalition with the National Party, argued that the agreement concedes too much to India, particularly on immigration, without securing adequate returns for New Zealand, especially in sensitive areas like dairy. He expressed concern that creating a specific employment visa for Indian citizens would generate excessive interest in migration at a time when New Zealand's labour market is already tight.
“New Zealand First looks at all proposed changes on migration from the same standpoint: do they protect the ability of New Zealanders to find meaningful employment as well as the integrity of our immigration system? The India deal fails that test,” Peters said in a statement.
Broader Anti-Immigration Sentiment in New Zealand
The political opposition aligns with visible anti-immigration sentiments that have surfaced in New Zealand society. Recent incidents have highlighted this growing tension. One notable example involved a Sikh rally being confronted by protesters holding placards that read “This is New Zealand, not India,” accompanied by a performance of the traditional Haka. Several similar videos have emerged in recent months, pointing to a broader unease about immigration levels.
This context makes the parliamentary approval process for the FTA uncertain. The ruling coalition, led by the National Party, relies on the support of its partners, including New Zealand First. Their opposition could potentially derail or force a renegotiation of the trade deal, putting the newly announced visa benefits for Indian professionals in jeopardy.
The situation underscores how immigration policies are increasingly becoming a contentious element in international trade agreements, mirroring debates in other Western nations like the United States. The final outcome will depend on the political negotiations within New Zealand's parliament in the coming weeks.
