Prime Minister Bill English will not rule out a levy on new migrants to pay for infrastructure, but says any new levy would have to meet a high bar. The proposal of a special levy was included in the New Zealand Initiative's report on the impact of immigration on New Zealand. "I think the bar for any new levy is pretty high. Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse did not believe a migrant levy would work or that it was needed. If you're saying it should only be on those who become permanent residents, then it's double paying because if they are here permanently they will make a meaningful contribution through their taxes."

Source: New Zealand Herald January 30, 2017 02:48 UTC