New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says the Party "will not make it easy" for language schools that train immigrants, and hinted at immigration policies which people may not like.
Speaking to Newshub Nation on Saturday, Jones said he believes employers have "a duty" to train New Zealand workers before immigrants.
He promised New Zealand First does not intend to make it easy for language schools while acknowledging the border closure will make their business difficult regardless.
"We've had the COVID experience - the borders have closed and it's hard to see when and how they will open," he said.
"I can say New Zealand First has no agenda of making it easy for language schools which have brought migrants into New Zealand with low skill, low values and had a very disruptive and negative impact on our labour market."
Host Simon Shepard said the border closure has removed the immigration debate from the election conversation - a claim which Jones debated.
"I've every confidence our leader, our Caucus and our party will have very profound things to say about immigration," he said.
"Just watch this space - we will have sensible things to say about immigration and it may come to pass that not everyone will enjoy what we have to say," he continued.
"We've got to speak about the fact that in our population of five million we cannot rely on unfettered immigration at a time when our infrastructure is creaking."
His comments follow a February interview with Newshub Nation where Jones blasted the Government's immigration policy, saying too many people "from New Delhi" are being allowed to settle in New Zealand.
"I think the number of students that have come from India have ruined many of those institutions," he said about academic institutions.
Jones defended his comments despite the Prime Minister calling them "loose and wrong".
