Winston Peters has refused to apologise for his attack on a Chinese-Kiwi MP despite the Prime Minister and others describing his comments as "racist".
By Craig McCulloch of RNZ
The Foreign Minister attracted a firestorm of criticism last week after telling the Greens' Lawrence Xu-Nan to "go back to where you've come from" during a tirade in Parliament.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon raised the matter with the New Zealand First leader in a private meeting yesterday, after earlier condemning the remarks.
Winston Peters took a few questions at Parliament about the issue before walking off. (Source: 1News)
Luxon, however, refused to reveal any details about the exchange.
Addressing reporters for the first time since that meeting, Peters also declined to divulge what was said behind closed doors.
Lawrence Xu-Nan has spoken to Breakfast after he was told by Winston Peters to "go back to your own country" in the House yesterday. (Source: Breakfast)
"We had a meeting with the Prime Minister. It's private, and that's the end of it," he said.
Asked whether he would apologise, Peters instead doubled down, arguing his conduct was justified given Xu-Nan's heckling during his speech in Parliament.
"I was talking about a critical shutdown and cover-up to do with the Covid inquiry, and all the people [who] are going to suffer as a consequence.
"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."
The official transcript of the Parliamentary debate noted that Xu-Nan interrupted Peters' speech by shouting, "Are you vaccinated?"
Asked whether he had embarrassed New Zealand with his conduct, Peters ended questions and marched off into the debating chamber.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters responded to heckling by saying to Lawrence Xu-Nan: "I know you just came here five minutes ago. Go back to your own country." (Source: Supplied)
Speaking separately to reporters, National deputy leader Nicola Willis said she was disappointed Peters would not apologise.
"Ultimately it is a matter for Winston Peters to be accountable for his words in Parliament."
Willis said, in her view, the foreign minister had fallen short of the standards expected of parliamentarians.
"To question the validity of someone's ability to speak based on their country of birth is really unreasonable, and it has been, of course, offensive to the Chinese community," she said.
"Whether you're born in China, the UK, India, you've got a very significant contribution that you're making to this country."
The Greens' co-leader Marama Davidson said her party had written to Parliament's Speaker Gerry Brownlee to request that he require Peters to formally withdraw his comment and apologise.
"The racism towards our Green MP was absolutely unacceptable, but it also has further consequences on the safety of migrant communities across Aotearoa."
She said the Greens would not go into any governing arrangement with NZ First.
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