Alastair McClymont - Immigration Law Specialist

Alastair McClymont - Immigration Law Specialist I am an Immigration Law specialist for more than 28 years. Immigration is a passion, not just my profession.

I believe in advocating for change, the benefits of migration and the value that migrants add to this country.

I was recently asked by a political party what a serious, long-term policy might look like for addressing New Zealand’s ...
28/08/2026

I was recently asked by a political party what a serious, long-term policy might look like for addressing New Zealand’s dependence on low- and semi-skilled temporary migrant workers.

The question deserves more than another argument about whether the immigration tap should be turned on or off.

Labour opened the door too widely through the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme, without adequate verification, monitoring or enforcement. The result was a market in job offers, recruitment debt and exploitation on an unprecedented scale.

The current National-led Government has responded with tighter eligibility, higher wage thresholds and considerable resources directed towards declining applications and removing migrants who entered through that open door.

These approaches appear different, but neither addresses the entrenched problem.

Both continue to treat migrant numbers as the variable that must be adjusted, while leaving untouched the industries and employment structures that have become dependent on a permanently replenished supply of insecure temporary workers.

Worse still, both approaches create opportunities for exploitation.

Labour’s settings allowed access to jobs and visas to be sold. National’s increasingly difficult residence requirements raise the value of apparent compliance. Where residence depends on meeting an unrealistic wage threshold, the result may be wage recycling, artificial payroll arrangements or other methods of making a worker appear eligible on paper.

The more precarious a migrant’s position becomes, the less likely that worker is to report exploitation. Reporting an employer may mean losing the job required to retain a visa or qualify for residence.

A policy intended to prevent abuse can therefore strengthen the employer’s control over the worker.

The real policy question is not simply how many migrants New Zealand should admit during the next economic cycle. It is how we dismantle business models that rely on permanently temporary workers without punishing the migrants whom New Zealand has already recruited.

My proposed approach is to restrict the continual reproduction of temporary status—not the people who already possess it.

In this article, I examine:

• how temporary labour shortages become structural dependencies;

• why neither Labour nor National has solved the underlying problem;

• how both approaches create new opportunities for exploitation;

• why wage thresholds, labour-market tests and shortage lists are inadequate; and

• what a managed five-to-ten-year transition could look like.

Read the full article here:

Explore a long-term policy response to New Zealand’s dependence on temporary migrant labour and the need for sustainable workforce reform.

As immigration becomes an increasingly prominent election issue, politicians are again talking about the need for migran...
14/08/2026

As immigration becomes an increasingly prominent election issue, politicians are again talking about the need for migrants to assimilate, integrate and contribute to “social cohesion”. But what does social cohesion actually mean, and what should it reasonably require of migrants and the wider community? This article considers social cohesion as a combination of shared civic values, participation in public life and ordinary relationships across communities—without requiring migrants to surrender their cultural identity. It also asks whether aspects of our current immigration regime, together with rising anti-migrant rhetoric, may marginalise migrants and make the cohesion we seek more difficult to achieve.

Read the full article here:

Explore social cohesion in New Zealand, migrant integration, assimilation, cultural identity and immigration policy.

In this week’s blog I examine Winston Peters’ recent comments through the lens of history and democratic principles. I d...
07/08/2026

In this week’s blog I examine Winston Peters’ recent comments through the lens of history and democratic principles. I discuss why political rhetoric matters, the lessons we can draw from 250 years of democratic development, and the importance of protecting respectful public discourse.

Read more in the link below.

Explore how New Zealand Democracy and Free Speech relate to symbolic political protest and the Winston Peters guillotine debate.

In this week’s blog I explore whether New Zealand’s current immigration and border screening processes are sufficient wh...
03/08/2026

In this week’s blog I explore whether New Zealand’s current immigration and border screening processes are sufficient when it comes to former IDF soldiers entering the country. I consider the legal issues involved, the importance of due diligence, and how international obligations should inform decision-making.

Read more in the link below.

Should New Zealand Immigration Character Requirements apply to former IDF soldiers? Explore the legal framework.

Are the new Skilled Migrant Residency Pathways actually Residency Roadblocks for some?To find out more about the upcomin...
09/07/2026

Are the new Skilled Migrant Residency Pathways actually Residency Roadblocks for some?

To find out more about the upcoming Skilled Residency changes, and the potential roadblocks being put in the way of some READ MORE HERE:

Discover how new residence pathways may also create residency roadblocks for skilled migrants in New Zealand.

In this story from the Dominion Post I have explained why Winston Peters claims the government is worried that Indian PM...
06/07/2026

In this story from the Dominion Post I have explained why Winston Peters claims the government is worried that Indian PM Narendra Modi will find out about the government trying to restrict residency pathways for Indian nationals.
Recent changes to Immigration Policy creates significant barriers to Indian nationals obtaining residency through its restrictions on the type of evidence excepted as work experience and barriers put in place for skilled occupations often dominated by Indian Residency applicants.
While immigration advisors worry about their business through these restrictions on residency pathways, it’s important that there is honesty out there about specific barriers being put in place to try and prevent Indians obtained Residency Visas here: instead, trapping them in an endless cycle of temporary work visas creating a ripe environment for exploitation.

A lawyer says Immigration NZ changes to temporary work visa rules will create “barriers to residency” for Indian nationals.

In this week’s blog I discuss how recent changes to New Zealand’s immigration settings may affect Indian migrants pursui...
03/07/2026

In this week’s blog I discuss how recent changes to New Zealand’s immigration settings may affect Indian migrants pursuing residence opportunities. I look at the practical issues surrounding overseas work experience assessments, why these changes are attracting attention, and what applicants should consider when preparing their immigration plans.

Read more in the link below.

Learn how New Zealand immigration changes may affect Indian migrants, residence pathways, and overseas work experience.

The Permanently Temporary Migrant: What New Zealand’s Latest Skilled Migrant Residence Changes tell us about the directi...
26/06/2026

The Permanently Temporary Migrant: What New Zealand’s Latest Skilled Migrant Residence Changes tell us about the direction of New Zealand Immigration Policy

Are the recent Skilled Migrant policy changes help provide new pathways to residency? Read More Here to see what's really behind the recent policy changes:

Learn how New Zealand Skilled Migrant Residence Changes affect residence pathways, temporary migrants, and immigration policy.

In this week's blog, Jo Haria from the Righteous Law Immigration Team discusses the new English Language rules for Accre...
22/06/2026

In this week's blog, Jo Haria from the Righteous Law Immigration Team discusses the new English Language rules for Accredited Employer Work Visa holders.

Could These New English Language Rules Affect Your Future in New Zealand?

Read more to find out:

Learn how AEWV English Language Requirements now apply to Skill Level 3 roles from 1 June 2026 and what employers and migrants need to know.

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