NZ First condemned by everyone
People have been expecting NZ First to start bashing Asian immigrants for months, to try and lift their poll ratings like it did in 1996. Peter Brown’s outburst yesterday was not him just thinking aloud, but part of a planned strategy. It had to fall to him, as Winston being Foreign Minister can’t do it directly. He is now refusing to comment on his own Deputy Leader’s comments.
The EMA Northern have condemned (hat tip: The Hive) NZ First and Brown:
Comments by New Zealand First MP Peter Brown are racial stereotyping of the worst sort, says Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).
“It was post war migrants like Mr Brown who brought here the bigotry of the British class system and a rabid form of unionism,” Mr Thompson said.
“Mr Brown should stop being hypocritical.
And the Auckland Chamber of Commerce weighs in:
“Asian New Zealanders, and those overseas, should see this for what it is: a pathetic piece of political posturing by a minority party.
“I think he’s absolutely being racist,” Carter said. “He shouldn’t be condemning people because of their race or culture.”
Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove told NZPA Mr Brown’s comments were ironic, given that he was a “native born British chap”.
He hoped Mr Brown did not “take his own advice” and return to the UK.
We wait to hear what the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Leader of New Zealand First has to say on the issue.
On a slightly related note, it reminds me of a further Cactus Kate story from Tuesday night. As we were heading along Blair Street, we ran into Keith Ng. Cactus looks at Keith somewhat warily when I mention he blogs for Public Address. I then mention he won a Press Council complaint against Deborah Coddington over her Asian crime story, and Cactus literally leaps forward and embraces Keith in full bear hug, finally releasing him after thanking him for his work. It was very very funny.