Key facts
- Minister
- Winston Peters, Foreign Affairs minister and NZ First leader
- MP targeted
- Lawrence Xu-Nan, Green MP of Chinese descent
- Comment
- Told Xu-Nan to 'go back to where you've come from'
- Prime Minister's action
- Christopher Luxon raised matter in private meeting on Monday
- Peters' response
- Refused to apologise, cited Xu-Nan's heckling
- Greens' action
- Wrote to Speaker Gerry Brownlee requesting withdrawal and apology
Background
Winston Peters, New Zealand's Foreign Affairs minister and leader of New Zealand First, has refused to apologise for an attack on Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan, despite Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and others describing his comments as 'racist'.
The controversy stems from a parliamentary exchange last week in which Peters told Xu-Nan, who is of Chinese descent, to 'go back to where you've come from' during a tirade. The comment drew widespread criticism and prompted a private meeting between Peters and Luxon on Monday.
Current situation
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Peters declined to reveal details of his meeting with Luxon, saying: 'We had a meeting with the prime minister. It's private and that's the end of it.' He also refused to apologise, arguing his conduct was justified given Xu-Nan's heckling during his speech.
Peters said he was discussing 'a critical shutdown and cover-up to do with the Covid inquiry' when Xu-Nan interrupted. 'He was jeering and shouting from my side. I'm not apologising for them, most certainly not. I'm not apologising on behalf of all those people who are victims,' he said. The official parliamentary transcript records Xu-Nan shouting, 'Are you vaccinated?' during Peters' speech.
When asked whether he had embarrassed New Zealand, Peters ended the press conference and walked into the debating chamber. National deputy leader Nicola Willis expressed disappointment, saying Peters needed to be 'accountable for his words in Parliament' and that questioning someone's right to speak based on birthplace was 'really unreasonable' and 'offensive to the Chinese community'.
| Stakeholder | Position |
|---|---|
| Winston Peters | Refuses to apologise; says conduct justified |
| Christopher Luxon | Condemned remarks; raised matter privately |
| Nicola Willis | Disappointed; says Peters must be accountable |
| Marama Davidson | Calls racism unacceptable; seeks apology |
| Green Party | Pursuing breach of privilege if no apology |
Impacts
The Greens have formally asked Speaker Gerry Brownlee to require Peters to withdraw his comment and apologise. Co-leader Marama Davidson said the party had written to the Speaker, warning that tolerating 'racist language' in the House could encourage similar behaviour outside it.
Davidson said the racism towards Xu-Nan was 'absolutely unacceptable' and had 'further consequences on the safety of migrant communities across Aotearoa'. The Greens' letter stated that Peters' 'belittling migrant MPs' was 'both racist and highly offensive' and that the party would pursue a 'breach of privilege' if no apology was forthcoming.
Davidson also said the Greens would not enter any governing arrangement with New Zealand First, a stance that could affect future coalition negotiations.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If Peters continues to refuse an apology, the Greens may escalate their complaint to a formal breach of privilege, which could lead to a parliamentary inquiry or sanctions. The Speaker's response to the letter will be a key factor in determining the next steps.
The incident could further strain relations between New Zealand First and other parties, potentially complicating future coalition talks. If public criticism intensifies, Luxon may face pressure to take a stronger stance, though he has so far declined to disclose details of his private meeting with Peters.
Depending on the Speaker's ruling and public reaction, Peters might eventually offer a partial apology or maintain his position. The outcome remains uncertain, but the controversy is likely to persist as long as the issue remains unresolved.
Source: rnz.co.nz
