During a heated session in Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused NZ First leader Winston Peters of “pure racism” for questioning a Green MP’s right to ask a question based on his Rarotongan heritage. Hipkins criticized National ministers for not challenging Peters’ behavior.
The Greens and Act party also condemned Peters, with the Greens accusing him of scapegoating migrants and Act’s David Seymour labeling him as attention-seeking.
The incident occurred when Green MP Teanau Tuiono used the term “Aotearoa” during a question about climate aid in the Pacific. Peters interrupted, questioning why a person from Rarotonga was asking questions about New Zealand.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee intervened, and Hipkins stood up to denounce Peters’ actions as racist. Brownlee promised to review the transcript of the incident.
In a subsequent question, Peters asked why someone from Rarotonga had decided to change the country’s name without consulting New Zealanders. Brownlee deemed the question unacceptable.
Tuiono, who has MÄori and Cook Islands MÄori heritage but was born in New Zealand, was at the center of the controversy.
Hipkins Criticizes ‘Ugly Side’ of Politics
In a speech following the incident, Hipkins condemned the “ugly side of New Zealand politics” and called out racism in the debating chamber. He criticized the government for not standing up against attacks on various ethnic communities in New Zealand.
Hipkins called on National ministers to combat racism during the election campaign and celebrate diversity instead of casting doubt on it.
Speaking to reporters, Hipkins reiterated that Peters’ behavior was unacceptable but did not comment on potential collaboration with NZ First after the election.
Greens and Act Respond to Peters
Outside Parliament, Tuiono criticized Peters for using culture wars to divert attention from real issues. He likened Peters to Trump and suggested he needed an atlas to improve his geography.
His colleague Ricardo Menéndez March accused Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of failing to show leadership in the face of anti-migrant sentiment spread by Peters.
Seymour distanced himself from Peters’ comments but urged against a witch-hunt, stating that fueling attention to such remarks would be counterproductive.
Peters dismissed criticism from Hipkins and Seymour, emphasizing his stance on the use of the term Aotearoa and asserting that he was unbothered by others’ opinions.
Despite the backlash, Peters remained defiant, stating that he was unfazed by the criticism and confident in his position.
