WELLINGTON, April 3 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Minister for Ethnic Affairs Chris Carter said on Thursday that New Zealand First party's deputy leader Peter Brown' comments on latest statistics on the Asian population in New Zealand are "a nonsense."

    Speaking from Vietnam, where he is leading an education mission to secure business for New Zealand education providers, Carter said it was disappointing that while so many New Zealanders embraced and enjoyed the many cultures and cultural events of different ethnic groups, Brown remained out of touch with multicultural New Zealand.

    "For instance, Chinese New Zealanders have been in this country since the gold rush days. They have worked hard to contribute both economically and culturally, and I for one really value that," Carter said.

    "The New Zealand Chinese community has an extremely low crime rate, and Chinese language students are a major contributor to New Zealand's economy," he added.

    Carter said that New Zealand immigration policies were designed to ensure "we get the best people for New Zealand, and that other countries were increasingly following our approach."

    "It is important we promote unity, not division, and value all members of our communities and their contribution to our national identity," he added.

    New Zealand First party's deputy leader Brown claimed on Wednesday that a flood of Asian immigrants, as figures showed they could number 790,000 in 2026.

    NZ First has previously ridden high on an anti-immigration platform. Brown, a British immigrant, claimed Asian immigration was pushing Maori "further down the pile" and suggested Asians would form "mini-societies" that led to division, friction and resentment.