23 Oct 2008

Racist undertones in National Party, says Peters

12:43 pm on 23 October 2008

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the National Party's racist undertones are clear when it comes to immigration, following controversial comments by the party's immigration spokesperson.

Mr Peters told a Pacific Economic Transformation conference in Auckland on Thursday that remarks by National MP Lockwood Smith about Pacific workers were the ultimate insult.

Dr Smith has apologised for any offence from his remarks that Asian workers were more productive in vineyard work because their hands were smaller, and that employers were having to teach some Pacific workers how to use toilets or showers.

He said he had been repeating what employers had told him.

Mr Peters told the conference that unlike National, New Zealand First believes Pacific people have the skills and experience to become successful immigrants.

However, Mr Peters' policy is that immigration numbers should be cut overall.

He said impending high unemployment means the country has to cut back on immigration, as some of the jobs that are lost will be those of Pacific Islanders.