5 August 2026
A tense exchange in New Zealand’s Parliament on Wednesday saw Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan repeatedly challenge Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters over controversial comments widely condemned as racist, reigniting debate over political accountability, race, and parliamentary conduct.
The confrontation followed remarks Peters made during last week’s General Debate, when he responded to interjections from Xu-Nan by telling him to “go back to your own country”, before adding that New Zealand was “a democracy, unlike what you’re used to.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has publicly described those comments as racist, while Peters continues to reject that characterisation.
Parliament Becomes the Battleground
During Question Time on Wednesday, Lawrence Xu-Nan sought to hold Peters accountable by asking whether he stood by the comments made during last week’s debate.
Rather than directly addressing the remarks, Peters responded by saying:
“I stand by all of my statements as Minister of Foreign Affairs including those made during two visits this term to China and my numerous engagements with my Chinese counterpart.”
Xu-Nan attempted multiple follow-up questions, quoting Peters’ previous statements directly. However, Peters repeatedly argued that the comments had been made in his role as New Zealand First leader during a General Debate rather than as a government minister, making them inappropriate for ministerial questioning.
The procedural dispute quickly escalated, forcing Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee to intervene several times.
Chris Hipkins Challenges Peters’ Defence
Labour leader Chris Hipkins rejected Peters’ argument that he was acting solely as party leader.
Hipkins argued that when a minister speaks in Parliament on matters connected to their portfolio, they remain accountable as a minister regardless of the parliamentary setting.
His intervention questioned whether ministers could avoid scrutiny simply by claiming they were speaking in a different political capacity.
The debate prompted several points of order from MPs across the House, highlighting the procedural complexity surrounding ministerial accountability.
Speaker Steps In
Speaker Gerry Brownlee acknowledged the issue was not straightforward.
He indicated previous rulings would need to be reviewed and later confirmed he would examine the official Hansard record before making any further determination.
Brownlee also reminded MPs that every elected member deserves equal respect regardless of how long they have served in Parliament.
At one point, Brownlee criticised Peters for insulting Xu-Nan during an answer.
“That doesn’t help the order of the House.”
He added that responses should not include personal insults directed at fellow MPs.
Peters Rejects Racism Allegations
Throughout the exchange, Peters firmly rejected suggestions that his remarks were racist.
When asked whether he agreed with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s criticism that he had a long history of making attention-seeking comments, Peters answered simply:
“Undoubtedly no.”
He also dismissed claims that his comments toward Xu-Nan were racist.
Rather than addressing the substance of the criticism, Peters argued much of the questioning had been based on incorrect wording and inappropriate parliamentary procedure.
Who Is Lawrence Xu-Nan?
Lawrence Xu-Nan was born in China but migrated to New Zealand as a child and is a New Zealand citizen.
Speaking after Question Time, Xu-Nan said his primary concern extended beyond the parliamentary confrontation itself.
He said the comments send a damaging message to migrant communities, particularly New Zealanders of Chinese heritage.
According to Xu-Nan, the issue is not only about one exchange but about whether political leaders can continue making remarks that many communities consider racist without meaningful consequences.
Greens Increase Pressure
Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March also criticised the Government’s handling of the controversy.
He argued Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had acknowledged the comments were harmful but had stopped short of taking meaningful action by retaining Peters as Foreign Affairs Minister.
Menéndez March said the Greens would work to prevent New Zealand First returning to government after the next election, although Xu-Nan acknowledged any future coalition arrangements would ultimately depend on democratic processes following an election.
Chinese Embassy Responds
The controversy has also attracted international attention.
The Chinese Embassy in Wellington confirmed it had made what it described as “solemn representations” to New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Peters’ remarks.
The embassy criticised the comments as negative and inappropriate.
While diplomatic criticism of domestic parliamentary debate is relatively uncommon, the response highlights the international sensitivity surrounding statements made by New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister.
Luxon Faces Political Pressure
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has publicly stated that Peters’ comments were racist.
However, he has declined calls from opposition parties to dismiss Peters from the Foreign Affairs portfolio.
Political observers note that removing Peters from Cabinet could threaten the stability of the coalition government.
Several former National and Labour leaders have suggested such a move might even trigger an early election, making the Prime Minister’s decision politically complex despite his criticism of the remarks.
Political Debate Continues
The incident has become one of the most discussed political controversies in recent weeks, raising broader questions about standards of conduct in Parliament, ministerial accountability, and how political leaders engage with New Zealand’s increasingly diverse communities.
With Speaker Gerry Brownlee expected to review the official parliamentary record and public debate continuing, the controversy is unlikely to fade quickly.
Whether it leads to procedural changes or remains another chapter in New Zealand’s increasingly heated political environment remains to be seen.
Key Timeline
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Last week | Winston Peters tells Lawrence Xu-Nan to “go back to your own country” during General Debate |
| Following days | Prime Minister Christopher Luxon describes the remarks as racist |
| Wednesday | Xu-Nan repeatedly questions Peters during Question Time |
| Wednesday | Peters refuses to characterise the remarks as racist |
| Wednesday | Speaker Gerry Brownlee intervenes repeatedly and later agrees to review Hansard |
| Ongoing | Chinese Embassy criticises the remarks and political pressure continues |
References
- RNZ. Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan grills Winston Peters on ‘racist’ comments that were directed at him. Published 5 August 2026.
- New Zealand Parliament Hansard (official parliamentary proceedings).
