New Zealand Foreign Minister Peters' remark about Chinese-born MP sparks backlash

New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, sparked controversy on Tuesday when he told Chinese‑born Member of Parliament Cheng Wang “go back to your own country” during a parliamentary debate on foreign policy. The remark was made in response to Wang’s criticism of New Zealand’s stance toward China, and it was captured on the official Hansard transcript, prompting immediate calls for clarification from both the opposition and the government’s own communications office.

Following the incident, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement affirming that the comment does not reflect New Zealand’s values of inclusion and respect for all citizens, and the Minister later apologized, describing the remark as “ill‑judged” and “out of line with the standards of parliamentary discourse.” The Chinese‑New Zealand community, represented by the New Zealand Chinese Association, condemned the language as “racist and unacceptable,” while the parliamentary speaker announced a review of the conduct rules governing debate. The episode has reignited discussion about racial rhetoric in politics and the need for stricter enforcement of respectful dialogue in the House.