New Zealand's Future Depends on Unity, Not Division

Once again, Winston Peters has chosen to tell a migrant Member of Parliament to "go back" to their country. This rhetoric is not new. During my time in Parliament, both Melissa Lee and I faced similar comments from him. While such remarks may attract media attention, they diminish the quality of political debate and undermine the inclusive values that define New Zealand.

New Zealand is, and always has been, a nation of migrants. Māori were the first to settle these islands, followed by generations from Europe, the Pacific, Asia, and more recently, Africa and South America. Each wave of migration has enriched our economy, strengthened our communities, and shaped our national identity.

Today, migrants are essential to New Zealand's success. Around 30% of New Zealand's population is overseas-born—one of the highest proportions in the OECD. They include doctors and nurses caring for patients in our hospitals, workers harvesting fruit and milking cows, engineers building our infrastructure, entrepreneurs creating jobs, and checkout operators and shelf-fillers keeping our supermarkets running. Imagine New Zealand without them; our health system would face even greater pressure, our primary industries would struggle, and many businesses would be unable to operate.

Perhaps Winston Peters and his party members missed the recent report from the Waitakere Indian Association, which shows that Indians contribute more than $37 billion to the New Zealand economy each year. (http://www.kiwiindians.nz)

The irony is that after the COVID-19 pandemic, when New Zealand faced severe labour shortages, governments—including one in which New Zealand First was a coalition partner—approved more than 160,000 visas to help rebuild the workforce. Migrants were not only welcomed; they were needed.

Yet, as elections approach, migrants often become convenient political targets. Selling fear and division is easier than providing practical solutions to our country's challenges. More concerningly, recent political attacks have increasingly targeted not only migrants but also women, further polarising public discourse.

New Zealand deserves a political landscape that inspires confidence rather than resentment. We should judge people by their contributions to society, not by the country in which they were born. Diversity is not a weakness; it is one of our greatest strengths.

If we allow political leaders to divide us along ethnic or cultural lines, we all lose. The real issues confronting New Zealand—such as the cost of living, healthcare, education, housing, productivity, and economic growth—cannot be solved by scapegoating migrants or any other community.

As voters prepare to make their choice, I hope they reject the politics of division. New Zealand's future will be stronger, fairer, and more prosperous if we embrace unity, respect, and inclusion. Those who seek to divide our nation for political gain do not deserve to lead it.

The National Party will provide a stable and progressive future. Vote for the National Party in the upcoming elections on November 7th 2026.