Auckland – New Zealand First Deputy Leader Shane Jones has defended the party’s tough stance on immigration, insisting that prioritising New Zealanders is “not racist” but a core principle of a nationalist party.
Addressing party members at the NZ First annual convention in Auckland, Jones said immigration should serve New Zealand’s interests, declaring: “We want to secure our own futures and get the people we need, not the people who need us.”
Jones renewed criticism of immigration settings, arguing they have increased pressure on wages and infrastructure. Referring to the growing Indian population, he said demographic changes had occurred without proper public debate and vowed to continue raising the issue during the election campaign.
The senior minister also criticised political leaders who welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit, saying New Zealand politicians should prioritise national interests over foreign influence.
Jones defended his previous “butter chicken tsunami” remark about Indian immigration, saying he often uses exaggeration to draw attention to political issues. He also called for tougher action against migrant worker exploitation and criticised what he described as poor behaviour by some foreign workers.
The speech, delivered on the opening day of the party’s annual convention, highlighted New Zealand First’s intention to make immigration and national interest key issues ahead of next year’s general election.
