A contemporary political economy of labour migration in New Zealand

A political economy of labour migration approach was initially developed to provide an explanation of the arrival of Pacific migrant workers in New Zealand in the 1960s and 1970s. The second period of non-European migration (post-1986) has occurred in a significantly different political and economic context. However, research, political debate and policy has remained focused on the nature of supply. This paper identifies some of the key silences in contemporary understanding, especially in relation to labour market outcomes for immigrants, and the need to develop an appropriate political economy of current labour migration.