Full Breakdown
Rotorua Councillor Raj Kumar Withdraws NZ First Candidacy Over Racial Remarks and Expense Controversy
7/15/2026, 4:29:56 AM
Core Event: Withdrawal of Candidacy
Rotorua city councillor Raj Kumar announced he will not stand as a candidate for NZ First in the upcoming election. Kumar confirmed that rumours of his interest were true but said the party’s position on the India-New Zealand free-trade agreement and deputy leader Shane Jones’s recent “butter chicken” comments, coupled with a $33,000-plus travel-expense scandal, prompted him to step back. He added that party leader Winston Peters’s defence of Jones reinforced his decision, though he left open the possibility of running in future elections.
Background & Context: Trade Deal Opposition and Spending Scandal
NZ First has opposed the free-trade agreement with India, arguing it could lead to “unfettered immigration” that would strain wages, roads and health services. In April, deputy leader Shane Jones used the phrase “butter chicken” to illustrate his concerns, a remark that was widely criticised as a racial slur. The party also faced scrutiny after details emerged that Jones exceeded a Cabinet-approved $33,000 budget for a Canadian conference, spending $65,000 on upgraded flights and a private limousine. Jones defended the trip, claiming the media was “laundering lies” to undermine him.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Jones’s immigration remarks as “unhelpful” and “alarmist.” Jones responded that his language was hyperbole intended to provide “cut-through” in political debate and to voice “the anxieties of Kiwis regarding immigration.” Winston Peters defended Jones on both the trade-deal stance and the expense issue, while NZ First declined further comment when approached for this story. Kumar said he would support the party’s newly announced Rotorua candidate, Billy Brown, and praised the unified Indian community’s support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
Criticism & Opposition
Kumar labeled the “butter chicken” comment “cheap and low-level propaganda fuelling misconceptions,” calling it a racial slur that reduced the Indian community to stereotypes. He also argued that Jones’s expense controversy revealed a double standard, noting that Jones was quick to criticize others while ignoring his own “dirty laundry.” Kumar’s criticism extended to the party’s overall delivery, despite acknowledging its policy strengths.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The party has many good policies, just very poor delivery from those who represent the ideology.” — Raj Kumar, Rotorua councillor
- “cheap and low-level propaganda fuelling misconceptions” — Raj Kumar
- “unhelpful” and “alarmist.” — Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister
