NZ First’s Shane Jones defends India trade deal ‘butter chicken tsunami’ comments as ‘hyperbole’
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones has defended comparing a proposed free trade deal between New Zealand and India to a “butter chicken tsunami”, describing his comments as “hyperbole”.
In a video circulating online, Jones, speaking about the free trade agreement announced by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in December, said: “I am never going to agree to a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand.”
The Prime Minister, speaking to reporters on Monday, stopped short of describing the comments as racist, but expressed disapproval.
“You can call it racist, you know, the colourful language from Shane Jones, we’re used to Shane Jones doing lots of oratorical flourishes as he is prone to do,” Luxon said at his post-Cabinet press conference.
“But the bottom line for me is he’s wrong. There is not going to be an influx of immigration. This deal is well thought through.”
Jones, arriving at Parliament on Tuesday, defended his comments.
“Oh look, Matua is a master of rhetoric,” Jones said, referring to himself.
“I get cut-through in debates by deploying hyperbole, and the reality is immigration is going to be a key issue going into the next election and it is my view that immigration is being snuck into the free trade deal in a way that does not reflect the expectations of Kiwis.
“Kiwis are flocking to my cause. Immigration unfettered, unmitigated has had a lot of negative impacts.”
Jones has expressed concern that the free trade deal with India will lead to an influx of migrants and put pressure on infrastructure.
The New Zealand First deputy leader said his party would “never accept” the agreement, and that “unfettered immigration” would drive down the value of wages and overwhelm the health system.
Luxon disputed that.
“I’m just saying the immigration story that they are scaremongering around is absolutely false,” he said.
“We have taken them through the data, we have taken them through the details of that deal. We’ll continue to do so, because we would love them to rethink their position.
“I appreciate they’ve got a pretty hard no against anything around free trade agreements. I just think that makes New Zealand poorer.”
Jones, responding to Luxon’s comments, said he did not want to “cross words” with Luxon.
“But I’d just say to the Prime Minister that New Zealanders are not going to tolerate unfettered immigration ruining our foundation culture and clogging our services at a time when we can hardly afford to upgrade the infrastructure that New Zealand has,” Jones said.
When asked if he should tone down his rhetoric, Jones accepted that he should.
“Yes, there have been various members of the Parliament who’ve said, ‘Oh, come on Jonesy, we know you like your one-liners but can you just talk in a far more prosaic term’. That’s work in progress.”
According to Trade Minister Todd McClay, the free trade deal with India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95% of New Zealand exports.