NZ will raise China's 'inappropriate' ban on MPs directly, Luxon says
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he appreciates Australia's support over China's "entirely inappropriate" ban of four New Zealand MPs from its shores.
But he stressed New Zealand would raise the matter directly with China itself "nation-to-nation."
Luxon made the comments on Friday after arriving in Queensland for a two-day visit in which he's scheduled to meet with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
The trip comes just days after four NZ MPs – National's Maureen Pugh, Labour's Duncan Webb, ACT's Laura McClure and NZ First's David Wilson – were banned from visiting China for a whole year because of their recent visit to the disputed territory of Taiwan.
Luxon told reporters the backbench MPs had not been representing the government in Taiwan and were simply taking part in a "long-standing tradition" of such visits.
"They're free to see who they want to see," he said. "We think it's entirely inappropriate - the reaction that we've seen from the Chinese."
Luxon said New Zealand continued to observe its "one-China policy", which acknowledged China's claim on Taiwan, but did not necessarily accept it.
New Zealand's foreign affairs officials had also been instructed to lodge the Government's concerns with their Chinese counterparts.
And Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday told media that her officials would "also make representations".
Luxon said he did not expect to discuss the matter with Albanese during their catch-up, but he appreciated Australia's backing on the matter.
"It's a fine thing, but at the end of the day, this is a nation-to-nation issue between New Zealand and China," he said.
"We'll raise it with the Chinese directly ourselves."
Luxon touts massive opportunities in Queensland for NZ businesses
Earlier on Friday, Luxon held meetings with Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Committee, where he said he made a very deliberate pitch as to how New Zealand's infrastructure firms could assist with construction projects.
"[The event is] going to be quite transformative for our region. It's going to bring huge attention to Australia and New Zealand," he said.
"I want to signal very strongly that we've got great New Zealand building and construction firms that actually can help do the build out here."
Luxon said New Zealand would send a delegation of construction firms to the state to help them better "understand the opportunity" across procurement, engineering, architecture, design and more.
He said the Government would also make the most of the event to showcase New Zealand as a tourist destination.