Clark set to dance with the devil

Clark set to sign deal with China
New Zealand is poised to sign a trade deal with powerhouse economy China, in what is being touted as our biggest trade breakthrough in 25 years. But its reception here may be rocky, with Government support party the Greens opposing any deal in protest at China's human rights and environmental breaches. NZ First has expressed alarm at the possible free movement of unskilled labour from China. The agreement, once signed, seems assured of majority political support, however, after National's foreign affairs spokesman, Murray McCully, confirmed the party had been regularly briefed and supported the move.

As has been pointed out on this blog in the past month…” I'm more concerned that it might be the back-door immigration open-door for relatively uneducated Chinese into NZ. They have said in the past it would be Chinese medicine practitioners and chefs. In reality it will mean anyone that can use a wok or put dried tiger testicles and Otter penises from plastic bags into little bottles can come here masquerading as skilled labour” – what are the details on unskilled immigration to NZ from China? Is there still the pencil headed bean counters in Wellington deciding to invest in migration as a way to increase population size rather than spend the money on family friendly programs like free education (student debt is the main reason educated women hold off having their first child) or full maternity leave? And should we be cutting deals with a country that has the appalling human rights history that China has? The Greens should test this new found fear of dropping below the 5% threshold and refuse to back the Government on this.