Thread 🧵
Every time the public was misled about the India FTA

1/10
National's own 'misinformation' post is ironically laden with misinformation:

"Total number are capped..."
This claim completely ignores uncapped student and 'Specialist' visas.

"Doctors" have no visa pathway in the India FTA but Yoga Instructors do.

"Does not grant automatic for family members to enter"
False. Annex 8K Section F explicitly states: "New Zealand shall allow the entry and temporary stay of the partner and any dependent children."

"The FTA [is not about] importing labour from India"
False. Annex 8K creates uncapped pathways for executives, managers, and specialists with no labour market test. Annex 8F uncaps students with locked-in work rights. India's own government called it "unprecedented mobility pathways for Indian students and professionals." 2/10
McClay: But it also does not restrict future governments from creating a cap should they wish to.

FTA text: Annex 8F uncapped students.

When pressed by the Herald who secretly obtained a copy of the text, he finally conceded the agreement would prohibit New Zealand from imposing a cap on Indian student visa numbers specifically.