Indian community leaders in New Zealand have voiced concerns over New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' recent remarks on immigration, which they say risk misrepresenting migrants' contributions to the country.
In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Peters said he was concerned about the number of migrants entering New Zealand, calling it an “alarming development” that he believed Kiwis were “acutely aware” of.
“They have seen the international circumstances of careless immigration policies transforming cities, changing cities, changing centuries of development and social life, and people feel at risk because of it,” he told the Herald.
He cited examples from several European countries, including England, where he believed migrants lacked respect for local values. According to Peters, some newcomers “don’t salute the flag, don’t salute the values of the country, don’t salute the people who were there before them, don’t respect the right to have your own religion”. He suggested that those unwilling to subscribe to New Zealand’s values should not migrate to the country.
In response, Indian community leaders have weighed in.
Prominent Indian leader Narendra Bhana said, “It is deeply
Bhana highlighted the role immigrants play across vital sectors of the economy, including healthcare, construction, agriculture, retail, and IT.
“New Zealand is proudly a multicultural nation. Immigrants are not just residents, they are business owners, essential workers, innovators, caregivers, and taxpayers,” he added.
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Former Member of Parliament also
“While it’s essential to ensure that the immigration policy supports infrastructure and workforce needs, some of Mr. Peters’s language has caused concern within migrant communities,” he said.
Bakshi added that such remarks, which appear to generalise or single out new immigrants, risk overshadowing the valuable contributions made by migrant communities.
Bhana recalled how the country struggled with labour shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Businesses across the country struggled with severe labour shortages, and the economy faced immense pressure due to the lack of migrant workers. That experience underscored just how vital immigrants are to keeping New Zealand running,” he said.
Bakshi further pointed to the Indian community's continuing contribution to New Zealand’s development — from small businesses to education, healthcare, and technology.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, speaking on Sunday, said immigration must align with the country's economic agenda and infrastructure capabilities.
“Those are the three things that have to come together for any country, and certainly here in New Zealand as well,” he said.
“We have accelerated pathways for residency through the Green List for when we have got job shortages that we desperately need to get into our communities.”
Bakshi welcomed the Prime Minister's stance.
“Prime Minister Luxon’s emphasis on aligning immigration with long-term national goals is a more balanced approach. We hope future dialogue on this critical issue remains inclusive, respectful, and focused on shared progress.”
Bhana echoed that sentiment. “Rather than vilify immigrants, we must value and support them. Building a stronger Aotearoa requires policies that are inclusive, evidence-based, and focused on long-term prosperity — not short-term populism,” he said.
The Opposition also criticised Peters' remarks. The New Zealand Herald reported that the Green Party’s immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menendez March described Peters' comments as a “tired, decades-old playbook of blaming migrants,” which served as a distraction from other coalition policies such as changes to pay equity rules and emergency housing — both of which have drawn criticism.
Labour MP Phil Twyford told Newstalk ZB that Peters’ remarks amounted to “cynical politicking.” He argued that instead of addressing pressing issues like the cost of living, NZ First was engaging in “imported culture wars that, frankly, New Zealand just doesn’t need.” Twyford acknowledged the need to improve the immigration system but stressed that New Zealand remains “completely reliant on immigration for our economy to work and for our society to work.”
Peters, in his Herald interview, reiterated,
“We, like wise countries, have always believed we should be training and employing our own people first and not use immigration as an excuse not to do that. That is still our plan,” Herald quoted Peters.
He added that New Zealand lacked adequate initiatives to move young people from school into employment and that migrants needed proper infrastructure to support their integration.