Concerns about immigration are "overblown and benefits under-represented", according to a new report.
Right-wing think-tank the New Zealand Initiative says many immigrants "integrate well" and do not necessarily "steal jobs" or cause house prices to rise.
The report, The New New Zealanders, finds the cost of providing infrastructure for new migrants is outweighed by the benefits - a claim the Labour Party disputes.
Speaking to RadioLIVE, executive Oliver Hartwich said immigration is a "complete win-win" for everyone.
It comes at a time when the United States is cracking down on refugees and migrants from predominantly Muslim countries.
Migration has little effect on house prices
The report argues while migrants do add to pressure on the housing market, "the housing crisis is being driven by native-born New Zealanders" and cutting immigration is "unlikely to have a significant effect".
High housing prices and increased net migration tend to occur simultaneously, "as both factors tend to occur when the economy is doing well". But the report argues policy, not migration, is to blame.
Foreign students and working visa holders are likely to be renters and may contribute to pressure on the rental market, but they are unlikely to buy property.
Infrastructure, however, is another story. An increased population adds pressure to roading and water mains.
The report suggests migrants could contribute toward the cost of infrastructure directly through a levy.
"It would make more sense to adjust policy to put more of the costs on migrants themselves rather than restricting the numbers of migrants allowed in," it says.
Labour disputes report's findings
But Labour's immigration spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says the report fails to address the strain on infrastructure.
"Our population is simply growing too fast for our infrastructure to keep up, and one of the key drivers of population growth at the moment is immigration, and that is also really the only factor that Government can control," he told Newshub.
Tightening immigration won't prevent radicalism
Tightening New Zealand's borders would do "very little" to reduce the risk of extremist acts being carried out, the New Zealand Initiative says.
According to the researchers, many terrorists are citizens of the country an attack is carried out in. The report also argues a terror attack is likely to be carried out by someone on a visa that is easy to obtain - such as a tourist or student visa - rather than by someone with refugee status, which requires a thorough background check.
The report argues "social unrest and extremism stem from social isolation and economic despair", but that New Zealand sees high levels of cohesive integration.
"If you're asking migrants what they think of New Zealand, 87 percent of all migrants say that they feel that they belong to New Zealand, which is fantastic," executive director Oliver Hartwich told Newshub.
Seven out of 10 people think migrants make a strong contribution to our economy and even more so to our culture.
Newshub.
