New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters ignited a controversy after telling a Green Party MP, Lawrence Xu-Nan, who was born in China but raised in New Zealand, to “go back to your own country” during a debate on the Covid-19 pandemic. The exchange occurred after Xu-Nan questioned Peters’ vaccination status. Peters’ remarks drew swift condemnation, including a rare public statement from the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, who implied the comments revealed more about Peters than his target. Peters defended his statement, emphasizing New Zealand’s commitment to free speech and accusing critics of being “communist shills.” This incident is not isolated, as Peters and his party have faced previous accusations of racism, including comments targeting Indian and Mexican communities. The controversy highlights tensions surrounding immigration and political discourse in New Zealand and has strained diplomatic relations with China.