An outspoken New Zealand MP has described mass immigration from India as a “butter chicken tsunami”, sparking a hysterical response from the country’s ultra-woke political establishment.
New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones made the comments in an interview with RCR Radio, and noted that high levels of immigration were overwhelming infrastructure and social services, and putting downwards pressure on wages.
“As for people who believe that unfettered immigration is going to somehow deliver some massive growth dividend, not only will it drive down the value of wages, it’ll clog up our roads, it’ll completely overwhelm our health and other frontline services,” he said.
“And I don’t care how much criticism we get, I am just never going to agree with a sort of butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand.”
WATCH: Shane Jones and The Great Butter Chicken Tsunami debate: Jones claims unfettered immigration will drive down our wages, clog up our roads, and overwhelm our healthcare system and other frontline services. pic.twitter.com/bDHkR3K8Ev
— William McGimpsey🇳🇿 (@TheZeitgeistNZ) April 20, 2026
No one is going to cancel me for being a voice for Kiwis concerned about immigration pic.twitter.com/KTVOb7oPoU
— Shane Jones (@mangonui08) April 22, 2026
🚩 Luxon loses it over Shane Jones comment about Indian immigration, and tells Kiwi’s YOU SUCK! BE LIKE INDIANS!
After 10 mins of being clubbed over the head like a baby seal about his terminal leadership, Luxon changed gears. And crashed out to defend mass Indian migration.… https://t.co/nyQeXSJBRy pic.twitter.com/5J8ZCNqvRc
— Holyhekatuiteka (@2ETEKA) April 20, 2026
Both Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who last year signed a controversial Free Trade Agreement with India, and Labour leader Chris Hipkins condemned the comments along with New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner.
Mr Jones has refused to back down, telling reporters on Wednesday: “No one is going to cancel me from any migrant community for being a voice for New Zealanders, their anxieties and their fears that the infrastructure of our society cannot cope with surges of immigration.”
When asked about comments from Mr Hipkins that the “butter chicken tsunami” comment would make him ineligible to be a minister in any cabinet of his, Mr Jones responded: “Well, he had a minister who called New Zealanders ‘rivers of filth’, so I’m totally disinterested in what Chippy’s got to say.”
He also told reporters on Tuesday that “immigration has been snuck into the free trade deal in a way that does not reflect the expectations of Kiwis”.
Mr Jones has previously stated that New Zealand does not need more Uber drivers, and as Minister for Oceans and Fisheries brought in a ban on seafood gathering along stretch of coastline that had been stripped bare by busloads of mainly Chinese immigrants.
New Zealand First opposes the India FTA, which critics say will lead to even higher levels of Indian immigration, which has already sparked a series of protests in recent months, including the blocking of Sikh parades and a remigration demonstration outside an Indian lobby group headquarters.
Header image: Left, Shane Jones. Right, a Sikh parade in Tauranga (Facebook).
