Original Source
Indians Slam New Zealand Minister Over 'Butter Chicken Tsunami' Remarks, Citing 'Outright Racism'
New Zealand Minister's Controversial Remarks
A senior New Zealand minister has sparked outrage by deriding a planned free-trade deal with India as a 'butter chicken tsunami'. The remarks come as Wellington is poised to sign a free-trade agreement with India in New Delhi next week. The New Zealand government has hailed this deal as a 'once in a generation' opportunity that will grant its businesses access to the vast domestic market of the world's most populated country.
Ruling Coalition Partner's Opposition
However, its ruling coalition partner, the right-wing populist NZ First party, has withdrawn its support for the deal over concerns about its potential impacts. The senior minister's inappropriate comments amidst this situation have drawn strong condemnation from the Indian community, who have labeled it as 'outright racism'.
*Source: SCMP (2026-04-22)*
