This pattern of Kiwi’s exploiting migrants is shameful

88 comments on “This pattern of Kiwi’s exploiting migrants is shameful ”

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1. Psycho Milt 1

   14 December 2016 at 8:31 am

   Greed has made us forget who we were.

   Not true. For one thing, we’ve always had employers keen to exploit their employees in ethically dubious or even straightforwardly illegal ways. For another, what constitutes “we” has changed – if you bring in Third Worlders, they bring the Third World with them. These employment relationships are normal where many of our current citizens come from.
   • Draco T Bastard 1.1

     14 December 2016 at 9:29 am

     Unfortunately, I’m going to have to agree with this.

     One of two things need to happen:
     1. If they’re NZ people then they need to be charged and convicted with the result being that they cannot own a business or be in an administrative position ever again – they proven that they can’t be trusted in such a position.
     2. If they’re an immigrant then they need to be deported back to their home country, they’re NZ citizenship revoked and be declared persona non grata.
     • Stunned Mullet 1.1.1

       14 December 2016 at 9:43 am

       I have to award you a +1 for that DTB
     • WILD KATIPO 1.1.2

       14 December 2016 at 5:45 pm

       @ Draco (1.1)

       Agreed Draco , but with one modification… I would suggest a probation period for our citizens / nationals similar to what happens with bankruptcy cases… yet of a longer duration and far more stringently enforced.

       Reason being it is not a crime that includes direct physical harm and people can change, and learn … at least many do.

       Regard immigrants who are caught practicing this exploitation … Deportation. With no ‘ probationary ‘ period. Ever . Its the height of arrogance to come to this country and abuse the privilege of being allowed to come here permanently and then shit all over our laws … these characters need to be weeded out and given a swift back to where they came from.
       • WILD KATIPO 1.1.2.1

         14 December 2016 at 10:11 pm

         Bill the Double Dipper English inherits the mess of the laughing clown salesman Key and pays for it with his soul….

         So long , Bill.
     • Craig H 1.1.3

       14 December 2016 at 10:22 pm

       I disagree with stripping citizenship for anything other than obtaining it by fraud/deception or with-holding material information. I also disagree with deporting NZ residents (i.e. people with residency visas) after 10 years as residents on any grounds other than obtaining residency by fraud/deception or with-holding material information. I see either of these as the thin end of the wedge, and would not want it to be used by populist politicians as the Australians have done already with their deportations of people after 40+ years of residence because of accumulating 1 year imprisonment over time.

       That aside, the Immigration Act already allows NZ residents to be deported if they are convicted of migrant exploitation (offences against section 351 of the Immigration Act 2009) or of employing staff in breach of a visa despite knowing they do not hold an appropriate visa (section 350(1)(a) of the Immigration Act) – this came into effect 18 months ago. Deportation in these cases can occur for offences committed up to 10 years after residence was granted (normally, whether or not a resident can be deported is dependent on the maximum prison sentence for the crime).

       Sections 142M – 142S of the Employment Relations Act also now provide for banning orders on application to the Employment Court by a Labour Inspector or an immigration officer for serious and/or persistent breaches of employment law (especially minimum standards) and/or for migrant exploitation (as defined by section 351 of the Immigration Act). Banning orders are for up to 10 years and ban someone from being an employer.

       Not forever perhaps, but 10 years is a long time, so is sufficiently punitive in my opinion.
       • Draco T Bastard 1.1.3.1

         14 December 2016 at 10:54 pm

         I disagree with stripping citizenship for anything other than obtaining it by fraud/deception or with-holding material information.

         Obviously, I don’t.

         IIRC, one of the points about being able to get a citizenship is that you’re not a criminal in the first place. So, if they get caught being a criminal before they become a citizen then it’s should be automatic deportation. If they get caught after but the investigation indicates that the criminality started before they got citizenship then automatic stripping of citizenship and deportation. If the criminality started after they became citizens then it may be worth looking at letting them stay – depending upon the crime.

         IMO, I think you’ll find that these business people started their criminal path before they got here.

         I also disagree with deporting NZ residents (i.e. people with residency visas) after 10 years as residents on any grounds other than obtaining residency by fraud/deception or with-holding material information.

         If you want to live here then get full citizenship. That will protect you from getting deported by a criminal charge.

         I disagree with permanent residency as it opens up problems like we’re seeing in Australia.
         • Craig H 1.1.3.1.1

           15 December 2016 at 7:56 am

           Yes, citizenship has a good character requirement, as does residency. The business residence categories also have a requirement for the applicant to have followed employment and immigration law in all countries they have operated business in.

           I can see where you’re coming from though, as plenty of people get residency first and then set up a business, some of which will then be horribly exploitative, so there’s plenty of scope for it.

           I disagree with automatic deportation as there will be times that deportation is a death sentence.

           For your bottom comment, are you saying we shouldn’t do residency at all? What would you replace it with?
   • Siobhan 1.2

     14 December 2016 at 10:59 am

     I absolutely agree.
     However our hands are not clean.

     Cheap food- tinned tomatoes, fresh Mangoes , cheap clothes, cheap garden furniture…next time you buy something think to yourself, if I’m buying this for a dollar, and it’s being shipped halfway round the world with everyone involved getting a sizable clip on the ticket…how much did the worker actually get paid?.

     We all have to get by, and when you need to feed the kids and pay the rent you gotta do what you gotta do, but every now and then I go, nope, I’m not going to buy that, its too cheap.

     Workers are being exploited, it doesn’t just become “bad” when it happens here..
     • Psycho Milt 1.2.1

       14 December 2016 at 12:05 pm

       All true – I’m constantly annoying my family by pointing out exactly how that particular shit they just bought so amazingly cheaply got to be so cheap. However, working conditions in our own country are a lot easier for us to influence than conditions in foreign countries, so here’s where we need to focus our effort.
       • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1

         14 December 2016 at 1:13 pm

         However, working conditions in our own country are a lot easier for us to influence than conditions in foreign countries, so here’s where we need to focus our effort.

         Although true we can make a difference – by simply not buying from countries that use exploitation.
         • Macro 1.2.1.1.1

           14 December 2016 at 4:06 pm

           Yes – and I think that is what Psycho Milt is saying too.

           There is an excellent book on this whole topic, on my book shelf here: “Not on the Label :What Really Goes into the Food on Your Plate” by Felicity Lawrence.
           A shocking and highly readable expose of the state of the food production industry in Britain today. Felicity Lawrence will take some of the most popular foods we eat at home to show how the food industry in Britain causes ill health, environmental damage, urban blight, starving smallholders in Africa and Asia, and illegal labourers smuggled and exploited in Britain.
   • ropata 1.3

     14 December 2016 at 11:41 am

     Once upon a time in a far away land (when we had an industrial sector) unions were compulsory in many industries, and the Employment Contracts Act was just a wet dream of the Business Roundtable.
   • gsays 1.4

     14 December 2016 at 12:46 pm

     we have practiced being greedy on each other.
     the kiwi landlord ‘portfolio’, the only game in town.
     • WILD KATIPO 1.4.1

       14 December 2016 at 6:01 pm

       Only because we had to.

       Do you remember the massive protests over Douglas’s and Shiply / Richardson’s reforms?

       Look no further than this blog site to refresh your memory , the historic recent footage of this are off to the right of the page and there for all to see.

       —————————————————–>

       That said, .. as neo liberalism ground us as a society down , and wages became gutted under the political lobbying and auspices of the wankers who called themselves the Business Roundtable and now the New Zealand Institute,… people went into survival mode… and learnt , then emulated , the ways of the same filth who put them in that predicament.

       A society is like a human body. And when the malignant virus of neo liberalism entered the veins of that body it infected that body with the same foul smelling , debilitating symptoms throughout the whole of the body.

       And like a disease, we – the body – still suffer and are in the grip of that disease even now… and a whole generation has grown up knowing nothing else than living a diseased existence ,… which makes it so much harder for that body to ever regain its former good health .
       • Draco T Bastard 1.4.1.1

         14 December 2016 at 7:27 pm

         +111
2. Paul 2

   14 December 2016 at 8:34 am

   The brighter future.
   Thanks John Key.
   • Paul 2.1

     14 December 2016 at 9:19 am

     As Malcolm Bradbury says

     Of course there is exploitation of our migrant work force!
     How could any Kiwi pretend otherwise?
     We have a corrupt work and student visa system in place bringing in 250 000 migrant workers/students on top of record immigration of 70 000+ each year. We have a Government who are doing this because it keeps their property bubble high and it pushes down labour demands.

     This has been purposely but for Christ’s sakes, that the mainstream media only seem to be slowly waking up to the extent of the migrant worker abuse says more about the mainstream media than it does about how wide spread the abuse is.
     There is a simple, simple, simple solution – unions. Every migrant worker should be a member of a specially formed migrant worker Union and given the details for that Union when they enter the country. This would immediately eradicate 90% of these abuses and prosecute the remaining 10%.
     It is our neoliberal free market immigration system combined with a Government who hate unions that has created an environment as toxic as this is for migrant workers.
     Businesses are currently making a mockery of our employment laws and abusing people while we turn a blind eye.
     This is New Zealand in 2017. Who knew property investors would be given such power as to warp our entire immigration policy?
     NZME is 86% owned by banks – those banks lend for the hyper inflated property bubble, immigration and work/student visa scams help keep that property bubble afloat.With interests this vested, it’s no wonder the news media are so slow to pick this up./b>

     http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/12/14/of-course-there-is-exploitation-of-migrant-workers-why-are-kiwis-so-easily-led/
     • michelle 2.1.1

       14 December 2016 at 10:47 am

       What happen to the market will provide when it doesn’t our govt the dirty tories just change the law to suit this ensures the trickle up effect continues
       • Wensleydale 2.1.1.1

         14 December 2016 at 12:39 pm

         Oh, the market provides. It’s just that it only provides for “the right sort of people”.
         • tracey 2.1.1.1.1

           14 December 2016 at 12:48 pm

           In order for the very wealthy to remain or become very wealthy the “market” system requires a large number of low skilled and/or low-paid workers at the bottom of the triangle. And the myth is perpetuated by the occasional story of a person from a poor background getting wealthy as though that small percentage makes the large percentage who don’t proof of the later’s laziness…
           • Wensleydale 2.1.1.1.1.1

             14 December 2016 at 12:58 pm

             Keep the masses desperately aspiring to be “successful”, perpetuate envy and ruthless competition, drill into them the need to consume, to have more, bigger, better than their neighbours; keep them shackled to the treadmill, interminably preoccupied with getting ahead, because “one day, you too can have it all”…

             …and the status quo remains undisturbed, just the way they like it.
3. roy cartland 3

   14 December 2016 at 9:44 am

   The infuriating thing is that it’s more expensive to do it the unethical way. Of course the fuckwit exploiter thinks he saves a few bucks by overcrowding and underpaying, but enquiries the justice system and prosecutions are all expensive. As are the societal costs of the resulting crime and social services.
   If they are compelled to employ legally and ethically, the only person that “loses” is the bent employer, and that loss has no negative impact on the rest of us.
4. saveNZ 4

   14 December 2016 at 9:46 am

   Further proof that migration is lowering wages and conditions, encouraging unfit employeers (and by that token disadvantaging better employers). making slaves out of migrants in the migration scam, forcing local workers such as local students and unemployed out of work, lowering educational standards, encouraging the better scam migrants to gain residency while the more ethical ones are deported, putting massive strain on the welfare state and social services with increased health, education, super, court, charities, immigration investigations, IRD and ACC needs and making a mockery of our international reputation and of course finally getting the NZ taxpayer to pick up the pieces of the disaster which is a moral one as well as financial.
5. Cinny 5

   14 December 2016 at 9:59 am

   We’ve MANY migrant workers in our region, would some please tell me if a migrant worker is able to join a union. Thanks

   When they get the migrants to live on site or in accommodation by their employer some are seriously ripped off, sadly many are too scared to tell their stories as they fear being deported and as a result not being able to earn money to send back to the islands to their families.

   And they are such beautiful but very very naive people when it comes to understanding ones rights and knowing about exploitation
   • Craig H 5.1

     14 December 2016 at 6:53 pm

     Anyone can join a union, migrant or otherwise.
6. Pat 6

   14 December 2016 at 10:10 am

   its called laissez faire for a reason…..what did we think was going to happen?
   • Tricledrown 6.1

     14 December 2016 at 10:22 am

     Not just migrant labour.
     Mbie did a survey of southland Dairy farms found 25% were not paying their workers full pay.
     Brushed under the carpet because the perpetrators are National Party supporter’s
     • alwyn 6.1.1

       14 December 2016 at 10:32 am

       Evidence of your final statement please.
       Or an admission that you just made it up.
       Their was a survey of 10 farms in Southland of which there were 3 who had underpaid their workers. How do you turn this into your rather wild claim?
       http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/9447037/Survey-uncovers-underpaid-dairy-workers
       • adam 6.1.1.1

         14 December 2016 at 10:48 am

         3 out of 10 is 30%.

         So tricledown under reported it.

         Ah alwyn, I love your failed trolls in the morning.
         • alwyn 6.1.1.1.1

           14 December 2016 at 11:04 am

           “3 out of 10 is 30%.
           So tricledown under reported it.”

           Aren’t you the clever wee lad. Perhaps you could try something harder. What is 18 minus 11? Can you do it without having to take your shoes of so that you have your toes as well as your fingers to help in the calculation.

           I see little point in pin picking about the difference between 25 and 30. Do you really find it of importance? If so I suppose you would accuse him of getting the entire post wrong.

           However perhaps you will try and help him out. What evidence do you have that the farm owner, and the 2 share milkers concerned had anything at all to do with the National Party?
           • adam 6.1.1.1.1.1

             14 December 2016 at 11:12 am

             No you just said it was a lie, I just pointed out it was more than you said, via your own information.

             And who said anything about being connected to the national party, that is your assumption, and a rather long bow to draw may I add.

             But lets use your logic, if 50% of people support the national party, and generally that is higher in rural NZ, then it could be assumed 2 out of the 3 farmers were in fact national party supporters.
             • alwyn …

               14 December 2016 at 11:33 am

               “And who said anything about being connected to the national party”

               Um. You did see what Tricledrown said didn’t you?
               “…because the perpetrators are National Party supporter’s”.

               I’ve corrected the rest of your sentence. You must have meant it to say
               “that is TRICLEDROWN’s assumption, and a rather long bow to draw may I add.”

               There, that is much closer to the truth isn’t it?
               • McFlock …

                 14 December 2016 at 12:21 pm

                 Hardly a long bow to draw – they’re employers in National-supporting electorates who abuse their power over workers in order to make a few more bucks.

                 I don’t see them ticking the box on election day in support of a party that aims to improve the lot of workers, do you? Basically that leaves the nats, their little remora-seat lickspittles Act, and an outside chance of NZ first.

                 I wouldn’t expect to see them at a Green or Labour party convention, that’s for sure.
               • adam …

                 14 December 2016 at 12:59 pm

                 You really are dull alwyn. I had hoped you were not, and I apologise for giving you a modicum of intelligence, which obviously – you did not have.
                 • alwyn …

                   14 December 2016 at 1:22 pm

                   And a downcast and vanquished Adam departs the scene. He has again made a fool of himself by not reading what he was trying to comment on.
                   He followed Shakespeare’s most famous stage direction.
                   “Exit stage left pursued by a bear”
                   • In Vino …

                     14 December 2016 at 4:35 pm

                     You are deluded, alwyn.
                     McFlock justified Trickledrown’s statement quite well to normal minds. Go somewhere else with your boring pin-pricking (not ‘picking’, by the way).
                   • adam …

                     14 December 2016 at 4:49 pm

                     alwyn you make dish water look exciting.
                   • alwyn …

                     14 December 2016 at 7:23 pm

                     To In Vino
                     “McFlock justified….”
                     You will note I suppose that I was mostly talking to Paul and he does rather seem to be at odds with McFl doesn’t he?
                     A says “a rather long bow to draw may I add.”
                     M says “Hardly a long bow to draw”

                     On the other hand both Adam and McFlock try to justify their assumptions about the 3 people, 1 farmer and 2 sharemilkers on the basis of statistics and their assumptions about the voting behaviour of New Zealand farmers.
                     You can’t appeal to statistics to justify your claims about 3 people.
                     It doesn’t work that way. Even if you knew the voting patterns about the population of all New Zealand farmers you cannot possibly say anything meaningful about a mere 3 of them.
               • Kevin …

                 15 December 2016 at 12:47 pm

                 50% Chance they are Alwyn (if the polls are anything to go by), and I will take those odds any day.

                 In fact, being Southland (an area I grew up in) it’s probably considerably higher.
     • Bob 6.1.2

       14 December 2016 at 10:33 am

       I’d say 99% of the people doing the exploiting are National Voters as they all know nothing will be done about it. I have seen it with my own eyes, & when I mention the fact I get called a Communist!!! Go figure ?
       • Wensleydale 6.1.2.1

         14 December 2016 at 12:44 pm

         Harks back to days when if you questioned the local clergyman, you were immediately decried as a witch. Discredit and deflect… it’s so commonplace now it’s almost tedious.
         • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2.1.1

           14 December 2016 at 1:32 pm

           And we see it everywhere from the RWNJs.
     • michelle 6.1.3

       14 December 2016 at 10:50 am

       The farmers in this country get away with murder and they have been sucking of the government tit for far too long this needs to change now but it wont cause Billy will continue to prop them up
7. Bob 7

   14 December 2016 at 10:30 am

   I know of immigrants & tourists who hope to get a PR VISA. Working for 12 hours a day with 10minute breaks to eat, & yelled at when using the toilet.
   Then coming home to sleep in a garage with many others, living in the employers garage.
   Tourist visa is no work, but most of them are working illegally & bring underpaid by their own people who have NZ PR & own a business.
   This has to stop, we are destroying the core of NZ beliefs to live in a fair and just Society.
   Or am I being far to idealistic.
   Shonkey has gone BIBLE BILL has taken the reigns. It can only get worse!!!
8. alwyn 8

   14 December 2016 at 10:35 am

   Were any of the things that that Auckland University study found illegal?
   If they were why did the people doing the study not report them to the relevant authorities for action.
   Surely they didn’t just make notes and ignore any breach of the law?
   • adam 8.1

     14 December 2016 at 11:01 am

     Who the labour department, who is underfunded, and under staffed? Yeah, right. if you tell them anything, you lose you job. Who in their right mind would do that? This is a department so fubar, the first thing it does is phone an employer and tell them it is going to investigate them.

     This government has effectively gutted any workers rights, there are no protections the law is broken.

     You know it’s a sad day when the Human rights commission are the ones publishing the major pamphlet on labour conditions in this country.
     • saveNZ 8.1.1

       14 December 2016 at 4:35 pm

       +1 – You know it’s a sad day when the Human rights commission are the ones publishing the major pamphlet on labour conditions in this country.

       And the local police are called in to manage a mine catastrophy like at Pike River because there does not seem to be anyone else in charge.
   • framu 8.2

     14 December 2016 at 11:51 am

     migrant workers need a work permit, which is tied to their place of employment

     or if they have no work permit, they cant get a temporary stay if they report their employer and face deportation

     or they are indebted back home to their families and/or work agents

     and they are often in precarious situations and not in possession of a full understanding of NZ law

     i would think the reasons why a migrant worker doesnt report abuse of the law would be pretty damn obvious.

     Do you seriously not understand the issues at play?
     • Wensleydale 8.2.1

       14 December 2016 at 12:48 pm

       He understands perfectly well. He’s just indulging in his usual obnoxious pastime of pedantic trolling in a sad attempt to appear clever.
     • Draco T Bastard 8.2.2

       14 December 2016 at 1:36 pm

       He understands – he’s just trying to deflect from the despicable actions that have been shown of business people. Trying to shift the blame onto the victims as per per normal for RWNJs.
       • framu 8.2.2.1

         15 December 2016 at 8:44 am

         oh i know he understands – but its always good to leave the door open for admissions by default re: trolling
     • alwyn 8.2.3

       14 December 2016 at 1:45 pm

       I wasn’t asking why the people being interviewed hadn’t complained.
       I was asking why the Academic, or academics hadn’t done so.
       My precise words were
       “why did the people doing the study not report them to the relevant authorities”.

       They didn’t need to name the people they had been talking to. They just had to name the business.

       By your reasoning, and I won’t call it logic, I shouldn’t call the Police if I see someone being beaten up in the street. It would only lead to further beatings of the victim if a third party, me, was to bring it to the attention of the authorities.

       Now why do you not answer that question, not bring up an entirely different situation.
       • Draco T Bastard 8.2.3.1

         14 December 2016 at 3:32 pm

         I was asking why the Academic, or academics hadn’t done so.

         Perhaps because they’re trustworthy and promised not to tell anyone.

         Really, WTF do you think is going to get the blame when the cops come calling?
         • alwyn 8.2.3.1.1

           14 December 2016 at 6:10 pm

           “promised not to tell anyone”
           And what do you think this study is?
           Not telling anyone?
           • Draco T Bastard 8.2.3.1.1.1

             14 December 2016 at 7:31 pm

             /facepalm

             It’s not telling anyone the identity of the business or the people employed because, as I said, if the police turned up to the business the owners of that business would then take revenge on the people they employ. The people being exploited would find themselves in a far worse state and no one would ever be able to do research again as no one would believe the researchers.

             But, then, you know that. You’re just trying to shift the blame off of the psychopathic business people that you hold on such high regard.
             • alwyn …

               15 December 2016 at 12:36 am

               Did you see the coverage of this topic on TV tonight?
               Do you think any of the businesses involved wouldn’t have realised they were the subject of the report?
               Are you proposing that they won’t take any action now, but they would have done so at some time in the past?
       • framu 8.2.3.2

         15 December 2016 at 8:38 am

         well, despite the fact the the reason why the researchers didnt report has been outlined to you (and the fact that that would be third hand info) – fricken sue me for making one tiny error

         maybe if you didnt engage in the relentless nit picking, putting words into peoples mouths and launching loaded lines of discussion?

         your becoming too much like pete george, but its good to see you admit that you know damn well why such employers arent reported.
     • Once was and others etc 8.2.4

       14 December 2016 at 7:35 pm

       Tying work visas to a specific employer is one of the biggest problems. I seem to remember Simon Bridges was reluctant to change that way back when.
       • Craig H 8.2.4.1

         14 December 2016 at 9:47 pm

         In Canterbury. work visas are not tied to a specific employer, which is good for the migrant workers, but occasionally awkward for the employer when the migrant worker finds a new job immediately on arrival. (not that it bothers me – the employers should pay more)
       • framu 8.2.4.2

         15 December 2016 at 8:40 am

         exactly – if the govt was serious about catching bad employers the first thing they would do is create a special visa for such people.
9. Greg 9

   14 December 2016 at 12:08 pm

   It was the unions that used to keep exploitation under control
   Our race to the bottom is almost complete our whole society needs a reset
10. Anno1701 10

    14 December 2016 at 12:36 pm

    welcome to capitalism

    the exploitation is built in !
    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      14 December 2016 at 1:38 pm

      Not only built in but actually necessary for it to function. As Adam Smith said (paraphrased) in Wealth of Nations: You need 500 poor people for every rich person.
      • Anno1701 10.1.1

        14 December 2016 at 2:04 pm

        now with ADDED misery & suffering !
      • alwyn 10.1.2

        14 December 2016 at 6:12 pm

        “You need 500 poor people for every rich person”.
        Can you tell me where he said this, or something like it.
        I thought I knew the work fairly well and I don’t remember this.
        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.2.1

          14 December 2016 at 7:34 pm

          https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/14424.Adam_Smith

          Wherever there is great property there is great inequality. For one very rich man there must be at least five hundred poor, and the affluence of the few supposes the indigence of the many.
          • alwyn 10.1.2.1.1

            14 December 2016 at 8:12 pm

            Thank you. I shall have to dig my copy out and find it.
            Wonderful writer, and a very shrewd man was our Adam Smith.
            Keynes was in the same category. You can read his stuff, not for the economics, but for the sheer beauty of his writing.
11. Ad 11

    14 December 2016 at 12:46 pm

    This is the morally hollow country now; ask anyone here in barbeque season who moved here for work and they will say New Zealand is a trap:

    – we are poor managers overall
    – we are disorganised and really low union power
    – we are poorly paid overall
    – you can’t trust anyone to protect you – again unions have no power
    – almost no-one gets promoted at all
    – you’re unable to save $$ at all
    – you’re unable to find a place to rent let alone buy

    New Zealand is a place to avoid, other than as a tourist.

    We have a low-value economy, and a low values economy, and it’s getting worse.
    • Anno1701 11.1

      14 December 2016 at 2:07 pm

      you forget

      “in constant pain as cannot afford usurious dental costs”
      ” malnourished as cannot afford to eat properly”
      ” GREAT place to bring up the kids tho ……..”

      “other than as a tourist. ”

      even they get gouged harshly , my inlaws from Europe were shocked how quickly their holiday budget was stripped from them during their most recent visit
      • Ad 11.1.1

        14 December 2016 at 2:18 pm

        All of which will continue as far as the eye can see as we remain mostly a bulk commodity producer of cheap farmed goods. Feels like we are becoming a nation of serfs.
      • saveNZ 11.1.2

        14 December 2016 at 4:27 pm

        “my inlaws from Europe were shocked how quickly their holiday budget was stripped from them during their most recent visit..”

        try living here full time
12. Clashman 12

    14 December 2016 at 1:16 pm

    I’m sure there are Kiwis doing this but in my industry it’s largely migrants exploiting their fellow migrants.
    • saveNZ 12.1

      14 December 2016 at 4:26 pm

      Exactly Clashman – it is not the Kiwi way, it’s like immigrations scams are the new cash crop for migrants.
    • rod 12.2

      14 December 2016 at 5:14 pm

      So what induatry are you in Clashman?
    • Once was and others etc 12.3

      14 December 2016 at 7:42 pm

      @Clashman. You are correct, however it’s not without the collusion of fellow Kiwis (by which I mean people with NZ citizenship).
    • Anno1701 12.4

      15 December 2016 at 4:08 pm

      you realise “being a kiwi” is up for sale these days ?

      10 million ? come on in

      because we really need another dominoes/pizza hutt/$2 shop…..
13. Siobhan 13

    14 December 2016 at 2:10 pm

    The Labour Party’s Anna Lorck on migrant labor..be it recognised as exploitation or not

    “But if we can get all the apples picked, and extract the greatest return from the crop we will grow more fulltime jobs.”

    So you see, by ‘extracting the greatest return from the crop’ ie paying low wages, we grow more jobs…admittedly with crappy wages and dismal conditions, but still, a jobs a job, and like any good Free Trade, Neo Liberal Capitalist will point out, we’re way better off than some peasant in wherever.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11720136
    • alwyn 13.1

      14 December 2016 at 6:18 pm

      You interpret what she is saying as being
      ” greatest return from the crop’ ie paying low wages”

      That certainly isn’t the ladies view though is it? After all, in the article you linked to she says
      “The great results we are achieving in the region through growing more long-term better paying jobs for locals”.

      Now, can you explain why we should take your opinion rather than hers?
      • Siobhan 13.1.1

        15 December 2016 at 12:06 pm

        Because wages on the orchards are crap. Wages in the town are crap.
        Any wage growth in the Bay is due to the growth of, for want of a better word, executive type jobs, created for and by people moving to the Bay.

        If you think that having people from third world countries being employed in your industry is going to help your wages grow, then good luck son.

        Unless of course you are the boss.
14. Sabine 14

    14 December 2016 at 5:58 pm

    when i arrived in NZ they called it “kiwi experience”.
    • BM 14.1

      14 December 2016 at 8:11 pm

      You’d be so much happier back in the Germany, all you do is endlessly whine about NZ.

      The best thing you could do is go home.
      • Sabine 14.1.1

        14 December 2016 at 8:34 pm

        they really did call it “Kiwi Experience”.
        you have an issue with that? Take it up with the one who coined the phrase.
        Btw. i came here during the glorious reign of Jenny Shipley. Also National. It just seems that certain things always happen under the same party.
        Here have a snickers to make you feel betterer.
15. OldTimer 15

    14 December 2016 at 7:58 pm

    Not paying the minimum wage and not paying tax is Theft why are perpetrators not convicted and jailed.
    • Draco T Bastard 15.1

      14 December 2016 at 8:47 pm

      Because they’re business people.
16. Craig H 16

    14 December 2016 at 9:39 pm

    http://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/whats-happening/news/2016/horticulture-labour-for-hire-contractor-to-pay-%24428%2C000-for-serious-employment-law-breaches

    Awful behaviour – nice to see it caught and punished. Sadly, it’s probably the tip of the iceberg :(.
17. philj 17

    15 December 2016 at 11:31 am

    Uncovered: Exploitation of migrant workers rife in NZ
    Is this an example of fake news? Really. This isn’t news. This has been getting worse for ages. Clearly our media are a bit slow to find news these days. Is government really interested? No. Bring on NZ’s own Brexit!
18. Tanz 18

    15 December 2016 at 4:29 pm

    where is your post on the fact that immigrants are taking away kiwi jobs and housing. no, not a whisper about this here. School rolls now huge,, Auckland bursting at the seams. Ah, but that would be racist, yet we cannot move to Asia and take over there.
    all workers are being exploited, not just migrants. lopsided article.

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