He blamed employers, saying they've taken over immigration policy.

"In our view, employers are only interested in net profit, after tax. They're not interested in nationhood."

Jones has suggested New Zealand introduce a maximum population policy, but wouldn't say what that figure should be.

"These are the exactly the ideas Kiwis should debate, and Kiwis should rely on New Zealand First... to take forward."

He said any population growth should suit the needs of the regions, not the cities, before targeting- not for the first time - the Indian community.

"What sort of country do you want? We were originally settled through the Treaty of Waitangi. The indigenous people coming with their Pacific roots, the Maori people, then the Anglos came, and in my case the Croatians came.

"If you want another million, 2 million, 3 million people, we should debate it and there should be a mandate, rather than opening up the options, unfettered, and everyone comes here from New Delhi. I don't like that idea at all. I think the number of students that have come from India have ruined many of those institutions."