致新西兰议会议长、总理及全体国会议员公开信

尊敬的议长阁下、总理阁下及各位国会议员：

我们谨代表90多个社区组织以及数以万计表达支持的新西兰居民发出这一呼吁。

这封公开信无关党派立场，也无关政治利益。

它关乎维护新西兰议会民主制度所赖以建立的宪政原则，关乎每一位新西兰人应当享有的平等尊严，以及我们共同珍视的国家价值。

议会是新西兰宪政体制的核心机构。它代表全体人民行使立法权，监督政府，维护法治，并保障所有新西兰人的民主权利。议会的权威不仅源于法律赋予的权力，更源于人民对其公正、公平和代表全民的信任。

正因如此，我们对国会议员温斯顿·彼得斯（Winston Peters）在议会中所发表的以下言论深表关切：

“Go back to your own country.”（滚回你自己的国家去。）

无论当时的政治背景为何，这样的言论都与新西兰民主制度所建立的基本原则相违背。

任何民选代表，都无权决定谁属于新西兰。谁属于这个国家，并非由政治人物的个人判断所决定，而是由新西兰法律、公民身份制度以及民主宪政秩序所确认。

新西兰是一个建立在民主、法治和公民平等基础上的国家。今天的新西兰，是无数不同族裔、不同文化背景的人们共同建设的成果。他们辛勤工作、依法生活、纳税、抚育家庭、服务社区，并共同承担建设国家的责任。他们都是新西兰社会不可分割的一部分。

任何人的归属，都不应因其族裔、出生地、祖籍、语言或口音而受到质疑。

“滚回你自己的国家去”这句话，并不仅仅是一句失礼的话语。它所传递的信息，是某些新西兰人的归属权低于他人，是某些人的身份可以被否定。这种表达削弱了所有公民在民主制度下享有平等地位的原则，也可能动摇公众对于议会代表全体新西兰人民这一宪政角色的信任。

民主社会当然需要激烈而充分的政治辩论。

议员可以就政策、理念及政府行为进行严厉批评，也应当如此。然而，民主讨论的前提，应当建立在彼此承认对方作为民选代表及新西兰人的平等地位之上，而不是否定他人的归属。

议会应当成为全国民主文明的典范。

它应当体现法治精神、公民平等、相互尊重、包容多元及维护社会团结，而绝不应成为制造排斥、歧视或社会分裂言论的场所。

基于上述原则，我们谨郑重呼吁新西兰议会：

一、确认任何质疑他人属于新西兰的言论，都与平等公民权和代议民主原则不相容；

二、要求温斯顿·彼得斯就其相关言论作出明确、公开、毫无保留的道歉；

三、再次重申议会对于平等、尊重、包容以及每一位新西兰人尊严的坚定承诺，不因族裔、祖籍或出生地而有所区别；

四、继续维护议会应有的行为标准，确保公共讨论能够促进社会凝聚力，维护人民对议会作为全国最高民主机构的信任。

本次呼吁已获得90多个社区组织及数以万计的新西兰民众共同支持，并仍在持续获得更多社会各界的响应。

这不仅体现了华人社区的声音，也体现了广大新西兰人民的共同期待：我们的民选代表，应以身作则，以尊重、公正和责任开展公共讨论，维护民主制度赖以运作的共同价值。

新西兰民主制度的力量，从来不是建立在所有人意见一致之上，而是建立在共同尊重法治、维护民主程序、坚持宪政原则，以及承认每一位公民享有平等地位之上。

一次真诚的道歉，不会削弱议会的权威；相反，它将彰显议会维护民主价值、勇于承担责任和尊重全体人民的决心。

新西兰属于每一位依法拥有这片土地归属的人。

任何一位新西兰人，都不应被告知“滚回你自己的国家”。

这一原则，应当适用于社会的每一个角落，更应当首先体现在代表全体人民的新西兰议会。

谨此致意。

谨代表全体联署社区组织数万名支持者的共同声音，其中包括90多个社区组织所代表的成员，以及通过公开渠道表达支持的个人。

A Constitutional Statement on Democratic Belonging, Equal Citizenship, and Respect in Parliament

Open Letter to the Speaker of the House, the Prime Minister, and All Members of Parliament

Dear Speaker of the House, Prime Minister, and Members of Parliament,

We write on behalf of more than 90 community organisations and thousands of New Zealanders who stand together in defence of dignity, equality, and social cohesion.

This letter is not about party politics. It is about the constitutional values that sustain New Zealand’s parliamentary democracy.

Parliament occupies a unique place in our constitutional system. It is the institution through which the people of New Zealand are represented, laws are enacted, governments are held accountable, and the democratic rights of every citizen are protected. Its authority rests not only upon legal power but also upon public confidence that every New Zealander is represented with equal dignity and respect.

For that reason, we are deeply concerned by the statement made in the House by Member of Parliament Winston Peters:

“Go back to your own country.”

Regardless of the immediate political context, such language is inconsistent with the principles that underpin New Zealand’s democracy.

No elected representative possesses the authority to determine who belongs in New Zealand. Citizenship, permanent residence, and lawful membership of our national community are defined by the laws enacted by Parliament—not by political rhetoric or personal opinion.

New Zealand is a sovereign democracy founded upon the equal status of all who are entitled to call this country home. Our society has been built by successive generations of people of many cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds who have contributed through their work, their service, their families, and their commitment to the common good. Their equal place within our national community should never be called into question because of their ancestry, birthplace, ethnicity, language, or accent.

The words “Go back to your own country” carry a meaning that extends beyond ordinary political disagreement. They imply that some New Zealanders are less entitled to belong than others. Such language risks undermining public confidence that Parliament speaks equally for all the people of New Zealand.

Robust political debate is fundamental to parliamentary democracy. Members of Parliament should challenge one another’s ideas, policies, and decisions with vigour. However, democratic debate is strengthened—not weakened—when it remains grounded in mutual respect and recognition of the equal constitutional status of every representative and every citizen.

Parliament should exemplify the values that enable a diverse democracy to flourish: equality before the law, respect for democratic institutions, freedom of political expression, and the equal dignity of every member of the national community.

Accordingly, we respectfully call upon Parliament to:

1. Acknowledge that language questioning a person’s place in New Zealand is inconsistent with the principles of equal citizenship and representative democracy;
2. Require Winston Peters to issue a clear, public, and unequivocal apology for his statement;
3. Reaffirm Parliament’s commitment to respectful democratic discourse, equal dignity, and the inclusion of all New Zealanders, regardless of ethnicity, ancestry, or place of birth; and
4. Continue to uphold standards of conduct that strengthen public confidence in Parliament as the representative institution of the entire nation.

This appeal is supported by more than 90 organisations , with support continuing to grow. It reflects a shared belief that Parliament must remain an institution in which every New Zealander can have confidence, regardless of political affiliation or cultural background.

The strength of New Zealand’s democracy has never depended upon uniformity. It has depended upon a shared commitment to constitutional government, the rule of law, democratic accountability, and equal citizenship.

An apology would not diminish Parliament. It would strengthen it. It would affirm that our democratic institutions remain committed to the principles they exist to protect.

New Zealand belongs equally to all who are entitled by law to call it home. No New Zealander should be told that they do not belong. That principle should apply everywhere—but most especially within the Parliament that represents us all.

Yours sincerely,

On behalf of the signatory organisations and members of the public.

1. New Zealand China Friendship Society – Christchurch Branch
2. New Zealand Chinese Association in Christchurch
3. New Zealand Chinese Advisory Groups Trust
4. Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand 2016 Incorporated
5. Botany and Flat Bush Chinese Association of New Zealand
6. Bright Pathway Foundation Inc.
7. Browns Bay Chinese Association
8. Chao Shan General Association of New Zealand
9. Chinese Association of West Auckland
10. Chinese Culture Association (NZ) Incorporated
11. Christchurch Chinese Women’s Association
12. Christchurch Zhong Hua Chinese Society
13. Dunedin Chinese Scholars & Students Association
14. Dunedin Senior Chinese Association
15. Dunedin Taichi Club
16. Fit & Fun Badminton Club Inc.
17. The New Zealand Guangzhou Chinese Association Inc.
18. NZ Guangzhou Youth Federation Inc.
19. Hebei Association of New Zealand Incorporated
20. Hunan–New Zealand Fellowship Association
21. NZ Hunan Youth Federation Incorporated
22. Invercargill Chinese Association
23. Kiwi Chinese Association Incorporated
24. Nanhai, Panyu, Shunde Friendship Society of New Zealand Incorporated
25. New Zealand Association of Cantonese Incorporated
26. New Zealand Remuera Chinese Association
27. New Zealand Association of Musicians and Dancers Incorporated
28. New Zealand Charitable Association Inc.
29. New Zealand China–New Zealand International Cultural and Arts Exchange Association
30. New Zealand Chinese Culture and Arts Academy Incorporated
31. New Zealand Handicrafts Association Incorporated
32. New Zealand Chinese Culture Communication Association
33. New Zealand Chinese Antique and Art Collectors Incorporated
34. New Zealand Chinese Hubei Association
35. New Zealand Christchurch Guangdong Association
36. New Zealand Guangxi Association Incorporated
37. New Zealand Guangxi Chamber of Commerce Incorporated
38. New Zealand International Art Exchange Association
39. New Zealand Liaoning General Association of Commerce Incorporated
40. New Zealand Light Volleyball General Association
41. New Zealand Jiaxing Association
42. New Zealand Sichuan-Chongqing Youth Association
43. New Zealand United Harmony Arts Incorporated
44. New Zealand Taiji and Martial Arts Society Incorporated
45. New Zealand Sichuan and Chongqing Association Incorporated
46. New Zealand Yangjiang Association
47. NZ Chinese Daily News Network
48. New Zealand Newspaper
49. New Zealand Poetry, Painting and Photography Association Incorporated
50. New Zealand Qingyuan Friendship Association Incorporated
51. New Zealand Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperative Foundation Incorporated
52. New Zealand Xinhui Association Incorporated
53. New Zealand (Otago) Chinese Professional & Business Association
54. New Zealand Putian General Society
55. North Shore Chinese Association Inc.
56. Sunnynook Chinese Association Inc.
57. Epsom Chinese Association
58. Puketapapa Arts and Culture Association Inc.
59. Pakuranga Chinese Association Inc.
60. Chushang Federation of New Zealand
61. Blockhouse Bay Chinese Association Inc.
62. Albany Chinese Association Inc.
63. Changchun Association of New Zealand
64. Auckland Mulan Boxing Association Inc.
65. White cloud choir of Auckland
66. Otago Chinese Professionals Association
67. Qingdao Fellow Association of New Zealand Incorporated
68. Qionghai Association of New Zealand Incorporated
69. Queenstown Chinese Community Association
70. Shandong Economic and Trade Association of New Zealand
71. Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce in New Zealand
72. Shanghai Fellowship Association of New Zealand
73. SportHub Community Trust
74. Starlight Art Association
75. The Moon Dance Group Inc.
76. Waitākere Chinese Association
77. World Chinese Musicians Association – New Zealand Branch
78. YouthCan Inc. New Zealand
79. New Zealand Suihua Chamber of Commerce
80. BNETV Limited
81. New Zealand Multicultural and Arts Exchange Centre
82. The Federation of New Zealand Shenzhen Societies
83. Ardour Charitable Trust
84. New Zealand Shaanxi General Association of Commerce Incorporated
85. Marlborough Chinese Community
86. Aotearoa New Zealand Education & Exchange Council
87. New Zealand Messenger
88. New Zealand Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles Incorporated
89. New Zealand-China Society of Science, Technology and Education
90. Lions club of Christchurch Chines
91. Hunan General Commercial Association in New Zealand Incorporated