Immigration can be a hot election issue, and results from the United Kingdom and Europe at the weekend show political parties which tap into the fears of the vulnerable can make substantial electoral gains.
Nigel Farage, the leader of the United Kingdom Independent Party (Ukip), had plenty to celebrate following his party's substantial gains in local authority elections last weekend, followed by a shockwave result in European elections.
The Eurosceptic party's victory marked the first time in modern history neither Labour nor the Conservatives have won a British national election.
It was a stunning warning to the established political parties.
Mr Farage said the results justified the description of an earthquake, because never before in the history of British politics had a party, seen by many to be an insurgent, topped the polls in a national election.
Across the channel, Marie Le Pen's far-right National Front stunned France's political elite by taking first place in the European Parliament elections, with President Francois Hollande's Socialists a poor third.
It is the first time the anti-immigration, anti-EU party has won a nationwide election in its 40-year history.
It has carved out a niche in French politics, notably among disaffected working class voters who believe the mainstream elite does not understand their concerns about crime, immigration, job losses and stagnant living standards.
Like Ukip, the National Front received regional support in local body elections, taking control of 11 town halls - a tiny number among France's thousands of municipalities but still a humbling experience for the mainstream Left and Right which have always ruled.
Italian and Greek elections, meanwhile, showed gains for anti-austerity parties, with their supporters still bitter about measures imposed on them during the Global Financial Crisis.
In not so much of a coincidence, Ukip and the National Front did not poll well in their respective capital cities of London and Paris.
Mainstream political pundits had previously downplayed the chances of both parties, only to be proved wrong - again.
In New Zealand, Winston Peters' New Zealand First Party has been regarded as the traditional ''anti-immigration'' party.
At the last election, Wellington-based pundits wrote off his chances of returning to Parliament after spending a term in the wilderness.
However, while the eyes of many commentators were focused on Wellington, Mr Peters was out in the provinces, drumming up support for his policies while offering solace to those feeling disaffected by Government policies.
As provinces saw their traditional jobs disappearing into Auckland, in particular, Mr Peters tapped into the disillusionment and returned to power.
Across the Tasman, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and former prime minister John Howard, successfully campaigned their way into office on the back of harsh immigration laws.
Higher migration is being blamed, in part, for New Zealand's so-called housing crisis.
The downturn in the Australian economy is seeing New Zealanders return home in record numbers, apparently pushing up house prices.
But only Christchurch and Auckland are suffering from the record house prices and unaffordability issues.
Damaged Christchurch is trying to find room for workers flooding into it for the rebuild.
In Auckland, returning Kiwis, and immigrants from a wide variety of nations, are wanting to buy a house and find a job.
Labour is flirting with imposing immigration restrictions, playing to growing fears emerging in the community.
A recent 3News poll found 62.4% of New Zealanders want restrictions on the number of immigrants allowed into the country.
Prime Minister John Key says immigration figures are a good news story, reflecting a strengthening economy.
Some won't see it that way.
And there is nothing wrong with sensible debate on the issue.
But election campaigning on race - or basing immigration policies on fear - is not the way forward for New Zealand.
