Who has been allowed to settle in New Zealand? Over the years since 1840, laws and regulations have been used to restrict or prevent the entry of ‘undesirable’ individuals or groups. Making New Zealand British and keeping the country white were the main goals of immigration policy until the early 1970s. People from Britain were actively recruited, while people perceived as ‘different’ were kept out.
Strong imperial sentiments in the colonial period, and views about race through the 19th and much of the 20th centuries, largely explain the purpose of New Zealand’s immigration restrictions. But alongside these narrow-minded, racist attitudes, more inclusive views about the peopling of New Zealand have also been expressed.
The Treaty of Waitangi and immigration
In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi acknowledged that British subjects were already in New Zealand. Implicit in Māori agreement to the treaty was that more immigrants would come from the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. Some Māori have argued that their ancestors agreed to allow immigration only from the countries named in the preamble to the treaty, and that the regulation of immigration from other countries should be discussed with them as a treaty partner.
Māori views of immigrants
In the early 1800s Māori had mixed views about the arrival of Europeans. Chiefs would assess the possible benefits these newcomers might bring in terms of trade, tools and weapons. The Ngāpuhi chief Hongi Hika was in favour of British missionaries settling in New Zealand. This was not for religious reasons, but because he knew that an association with missionaries would increase his influence on other Europeans, bringing greater opportunities to trade for tools and weapons.
A developing colony
In the 19th century, as a colony of the British Empire, New Zealand sought the right to curb Asian immigration. Concerned about the impact of these restrictions on its own interests in China, India and Japan, the British government refused to assent to New Zealand’s Asiatic Restriction Bill of 1896. Changes in immigration laws and regulations over the years have also highlighted the close links between immigration and economic strategies.
Change from the 1970s
Until 1961 (in law) and 1974 (in practice), British subjects were allowed free entry into New Zealand. Immigrants from Asia faced restrictions from the late 19th century. Entry of non-British Europeans was restricted from the early 20th century.
Beginning in 1974, the criteria for entry to New Zealand gradually changed from race or nationality to merit and skills. The Immigration Act 1987 finally eliminated both discrimination against some races and nationalities, and preference for others. But the numbers of migrants and the prerequisites they had to meet remained tightly regulated.
