New Zealand’s ruling National Party has pushed back against criticism of its new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, insisting claims about mass migration are “misinformation”, while unions warn the deal could expose migrant workers to exploitation.
“There’s been a lot of misinformation about immigration under the new Free Trade Agreement with India. Much of what’s being said is spin rather than substance,” the National Party said in a statement.
“This FTA does not open the floodgates on immigration… it allows around 1,700 temporary three-year work visas per year… and they can’t be renewed.”
The government says the visas will be capped at 5,000 at any one time and targeted at critical skill shortages in sectors such as healthcare, education, engineering and information technology.
It also rejected claims of family migration pathways, stating:
“There is no back-door pathway.”
However, unions have raised concerns about the potential impact on workers. E tū national secretary Rachel McIntosh warned migrant workers could be vulnerable due to their visa conditions.
“People coming in are ripe for exploitation,” she told RNZ.
“It is very easy to go overseas for workers without making the effort to employ locally.”
Sandra Gray also criticised the lack of consultation, saying, “My fear around this trade agreement… is that we are going to end up… dealing with really hostile work environments… that exploit workers.”
Despite the concerns, parts of the health sector have cautiously welcomed the agreement. Sarah Dalton told RNZ that New Zealand already relies on overseas-trained doctors.
“They don’t have an automatic right to practice here. They have to meet standards in terms of skills and experience,” she said, adding the system must balance overseas recruitment with local training.
The FTA, signed in New Delhi by Trade Minister Todd McClay and India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in the presence of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, aims to eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand exports to India over time.
Luxon described the agreement as a major economic opportunity.
“The benefits of this FTA are widespread… boosting Kiwi jobs and enabling economic growth – and that means more money in Kiwis’ pockets.”
However, opposition voices remain critical. Winston Peters called the deal a “disgraceful sellout”, warning of risks tied to immigration and investment provisions.
The agreement will now undergo parliamentary scrutiny before taking effect, with debate continuing over whether the economic benefits outweigh labour and migration concerns.
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