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Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has been dubbed the ‘Waitress Minister’ after repeatedly refusing to participate in a live interview on Newstalk ZB Drive.
Today, Mahuta has issued a mild reprimand to China for warning the Five Eyes intelligence alliance that “their eyes are being poked and blinded.”
China’s comments were made in response to a Five Eyes statement critical of a Chinese government resolution, which led to the disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong.
The joint statement, signed by New Zealand, said the new rule appeared to be “part of a concerted campaign to silence all critical voices”, calling it a violation of China’s commitment to grant Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy. and freedom of expression. .
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded by saying that Five Eyes’ partners – the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – “should face the reality” that the former British colony has been returned to China. .
“It doesn’t matter if they have five or ten eyes, if they dare to harm China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, they must take care that their eyes are pricked and blinded,” he said.
This afternoon, Mahuta replied: “We are aware of the comments and do not agree with them.”
He said New Zealand signed the Five Eyes declaration – which New Zealand had previously refrained from doing – because “enough countries were expressing concern.”
However, Mahuta has repeatedly refused to speak on the matter live; instead, he has conducted pre-recorded interviews on the subject.
ZB Drive presenter Heather du Plessis-Allan and political editor Barry Soper discussed the ongoing issue, and du Plessis-Allan said she has received conflicting excuses as to why Mahuta is unavailable for an interview, despite it has been two weeks after it was delivered. Ministerial writing.
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