13 June 2001 'Migrants vital to knowledge economy'

Science in New Zealand has been enriched immensely by migrant knowledge and expertise, says the International Services Committee Director of Lincoln Rotary Club, Dr Ravi Gooneratne, a university toxicologist.

Last night (12 June) the club held an International Dinner at Lincoln University bringing together migrant employees of seven scientific institutions at Lincoln and 15 different countries were represented.

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel spoke on the contribution of migrants to New Zealand.

Historically, when expertise of various sorts has been lacking in New Zealand, migrants have tended to be recruited to fill the gap in knowledge and skills, said Dr Gooneratne, and such recruitment had become a feature of the employment environment here.

"It is important for New Zealand to look after its migrant scientists, teachers, tradespeople and professionals because in coming here many are trading off salaries for lifestyle.

"It is the New Zealand lifestyle that appeals as much as the professional opportunities, but in the face of higher salaries available overseas New Zealand must ensure that its migrants are able to feel safe, comfortable, respected and 'at home' here otherwise it will become a transient process."

Dr Gooneratne said that in return migrants had always made a significant contribution to the economic advancement of the country and what they had to offer would become even more critical in the environment of a "knowledge economy".

"At a local level too migrants contribute significantly to the life and culture of communities."

In the location of Lincoln with the presence of a university, Crop and Food Research Institute, AgResearch, Landcare Research, HortResearch, the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand and Lincoln Ventures Ltd, all of which had international staff members, the contribution of migrant specialists was clear to see, said Dr Gooneratne, who is a toxicologist, originally from Sri Lanka.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.