Written questions

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he agree with the Prime Minister’s statement to media in Tauranga on 31 July 2026 that the remarks made by him in the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026 were “very offensive and completely inappropriate”?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he conveyed an apology, expression of regret, or clarification to any foreign government in respect of statements he has made since 27 November 2023; if so, to which governments and on what dates?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• 35347 (matches this search)

  Of any démarches, formal representations, protests, or expressions of concern received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade from foreign missions concerning statements by New Zealand Ministers since 27 November 2023, how many, if…

• 35348 (matches this search)

  How many démarches, formal representations, protests, or expressions of concern, if any, has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade received from foreign missions concerning statements made by New Zealand Ministers since 27 November…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he received any correspondence from the Race Relations Commissioner or the Human Rights Commission concerning the remarks he made during the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026; if so, on what date, and has he replied?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  How many items of correspondence, if any, has he received from members of the public concerning the remarks he made during the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026, between that date and 5 August 2026?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade raised any concern with him regarding the effect of the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026 on the Ministry’s ability to conduct New Zealand’s relationship with the…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  How many briefings, if any, has he received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade relating to the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026 and their consequences, between that date and 5 August 2026, and on what…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he sought advice from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade concerning the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026 or the Chinese response to them; if so, on what date?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  What steps, if any, is he taking as Minister of Foreign Affairs in response to the call by the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, in its statement of 30 July 2026, for New Zealand to create an “open, inclusive and non-discriminatory…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he consider the remarks he made during the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026 to be consistent with his statement of November 2025, quoted by him in the House on 5 August 2026, that “The coalition Government is committed to…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any Chinese entity raised the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026 in the context of any contract, procurement, or commercial negotiation to which the Crown or a Crown entity is a party; if so, which?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he stand by his statement in the House on 5 August 2026, in answer to oral question No. 6, that he stands by “our decision to approve the procurement of two state-of-the-art ferries from a Chinese shipyard”, and has any aspect of that…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  How many items of correspondence, if any, has he received from New Zealand exporters, education providers, or tourism operators concerning the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026, between that date and 5 August 2026?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he received any advice concerning risks to New Zealand nationals or New Zealand businesses operating in the People’s Republic of China arising from the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026; if so, on what date?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  What assessment, if any, has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided to him of possible trade, tourism, international education, investment, or consular consequences arising from the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he sought any assurance from Chinese counterparts that the New Zealand–China relationship is unaffected by the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026; if so, on what date, and what assurance was given?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any Chinese ministerial or official visit to New Zealand planned for the remainder of 2026 been altered, deferred, or cancelled since 29 July 2026; if so, which, and in what way?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Have any meetings, visits, calls, delegations, negotiations, or official engagements between New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China been postponed, cancelled, declined, deferred, or rescheduled since 29 July 2026; if so, which, and…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  On what basis does he assess that New Zealand’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China is unaffected by the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026 and the representations lodged by the Chinese Embassy with the…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he met, spoken with, or corresponded with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to New Zealand at any time between 29 July 2026 and 5 August 2026; if so, on what dates?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he sought a meeting with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to New Zealand at any time since 29 July 2026; if not, why not?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he stand by his statement in the House on 5 August 2026, in a supplementary question to oral question No. 8, quoting the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to New Zealand as saying “We have absolutely no interest in being…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any head of mission accredited to New Zealand raised concerns with him or with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about his social media post of 30 July 2026 referring to “pearl clutchers” and “communist shills”; if so, which…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  What advice, if any, has he received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the effect on New Zealand’s diplomatic relationships of describing a head of mission accredited to New Zealand in the terms used in his social media…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  To whom did the words “communist shills” refer in his social media post of 30 July 2026 which stated that “If that offends the pearl clutchers and the communist shills labelling it as ‘dangerous’ – welcome to New Zealand.”?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he consider the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to New Zealand to be a “shill” within the definition he cited to the House on 5 August 2026, being the Cambridge Dictionary definition of “someone who helps another person…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he stand by his statement in the House on 5 August 2026, in a supplementary question to oral question No. 8, that “by definition, all diplomats are shills for their own country”?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any media response issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade concerning the remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026 been cleared by his office before issue; if so, on what dates?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  What guidance, if any, applies to whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade comments publicly on statements made by him in a capacity other than as Minister of Foreign Affairs?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, at any time since 29 July 2026, expressed agreement with, endorsement of, or support for the remarks he made during the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026, whether publicly or in any…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Was the statement issued on 30 July 2026 by a spokesperson stating that he had been briefed on a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade official’s conversation with the Chinese Embassy issued by his ministerial office or by the New Zealand…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he stand by the statement issued by a spokesperson for him on the evening of 30 July 2026 that “The Minister has been briefed on an MFAT official’s conversation with the Chinese Embassy this afternoon.”?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Did any spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade make any public statement between 29 July 2026 and 5 August 2026 concerning the remarks he made during the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026; if so, on what dates…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Does he stand by his statement in the House on 5 August 2026, in answer to a supplementary question to oral question No. 6 asking why he had, via a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, agreed with comments made…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any scheduled or proposed contact between him and the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China been sought, offered, declined, deferred, or cancelled since 29 July 2026; if so, on what dates?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has he received any communication, directly or through officials, from the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China since 29 July 2026 concerning remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on that date; if so, on what date and in…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any representative of the Government of the People’s Republic of China conveyed to New Zealand any request for an apology, retraction, clarification, or other action in relation to remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has the Government of the People’s Republic of China raised remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026 with New Zealand at any level, in any meeting, call, or written communication since that date, other than the…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Have any of New Zealand’s overseas posts reported representations, enquiries, or expressions of concern from host governments concerning remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026; if so, from which countries and on what…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any guidance been issued to New Zealand’s overseas posts generally on how to respond to enquiries about remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026; if so, on what date and in what terms?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  What reporting, if any, has he received from the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing since 29 July 2026 concerning Chinese Government or Chinese media reaction to remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on that date, and on what dates was…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Have any talking points, guidance, or instructions been issued to the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing concerning remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026; if so, on what date were they issued and by whom were they approved?

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has New Zealand’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China sought, or been instructed to seek, any meeting with Chinese officials to explain, contextualise, or respond to remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026; if…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has any official of the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing other than the Ambassador been summoned, called in, or otherwise asked to attend a meeting by Chinese authorities in connection with remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Have any representations, protests, or expressions of concern been made to the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing by any Chinese authority concerning remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament on 29 July 2026, at any time since that date; if…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Has New Zealand’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China been summoned, called in, or otherwise asked to attend a meeting by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in connection with remarks made in the New…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  What standing instruction or practice, if any, governs whether and when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises the Office of the Prime Minister that a foreign mission has lodged formal representations concerning the conduct or…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Were any Ministers other than himself notified that the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand had lodged representations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 30 July 2026 concerning remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament; if so,…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Was the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet notified that the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand had lodged representations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 30 July 2026 concerning remarks made in the New Zealand…

Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

• (matches this search)

  Was the Office of the Prime Minister notified that the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand had lodged representations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 30 July 2026 concerning remarks made in the New Zealand Parliament; if so,…