NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS CHINESE-BORN MP TO 'GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY'

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters told Chinese-born Green Party MP Lawrence Xu-Nan to "go back to your own country" during a parliamentary debate in Wellington on Wednesday. The remarks came after Xu-Nan asked Peters whether he was vaccinated during a discussion on New Zealand's Covid-19 response. Peters stated that Xu-Nan had "come here five minutes ago" before adding: "This is called a democracy, unlike what you're used to. Go back to where you've come from, you loudmouth."

Xu-Nan, who was born in Tianjin but grew up in New Zealand, said the comments amounted to scapegoating migrant communities. China's ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, issued a rare public statement, writing on social media that "sometimes, a statement says more about the person that makes it than anything or anybody else". The Chinese embassy lodged an official complaint with New Zealand's foreign ministry, describing Peters' remarks as "negative China-related remarks made by a certain politician". Peters refused to back down, arguing on social media that his comments defended democratic freedoms and free speech.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, whose National Party governs in coalition with Peters' NZ First party, condemned the remarks as "inappropriate attention-seeking". This is not the first such incident involving NZ First politicians; Peters' deputy Shane Jones drew criticism last year after shouting "send the Mexicans home" at MP Francisco Hernandez, who was born in the Philippines.