New Zealand politicians have hit back fiercely at Australia's "deplorable" deportation policy and a senior Australian politician who referred to deporting Kiwis as "taking out the trash". Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today said Dutton's comments "only serve to trash his own reputation". Minister for Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins also slammed the comments and the Australian deportation policy in general - which is not reciprocated by New Zealand. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Australia Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's comments "only serve to trash his own reputation". She also said the relationship between New Zealand and Australia at the Government level was probably the "worst" in many years.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 11, 2021 02:10 UTC