- New Zealand minister Shane Jones has faced criticism for "outright racist" remarks concerning Indian immigration, made in the context of a free trade deal with India.
- Jones, deputy leader of the NZ First Party, controversially stated he would "never agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand," implying a flood of Indian migrants.
- The trade agreement, valued at $1.8bn, is set to eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand's exports to India and could lead to an estimated 20,000 Indian migrants.
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon deemed Jones's comments "unhelpful" and a "gross misrepresentation" of the deal, while defending the economic benefits of the agreement.
- The Indian diaspora in New Zealand and lawmaker Priyanca Radhakrishnan condemned the remarks, calling them unacceptable and deeply worrying.
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New Zealand minister criticised for ‘outright racist’ remark against Indians
