“Outright Racism”: Auckland Leaders Condemn Shane Jones’ FTA Comments

The Auckland Indian Association has joined a chorus of voices condemning Minister Shane Jones after he described the upcoming New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement as a “butter chicken tsunami.”

Shanti Patel, President of the Auckland Indian Association, told RNZ that the comments are “incredibly worrying” for the local community. The backlash comes as Auckland prepares to celebrate the historic trade deal, which the government previously hailed as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity.