Act Party leader David Seymour has called for refugees to be required to sign a "values statement" before being allowed into the country.
"If you're not prepared to sign up, for instance that you believe men and women should be treated equally, you shouldn't come to New Zealand," he said.
What are New Zealand values? According to the wits on Twitter, they include (clockwise from left) hating on Wayne Barnes, warning people about hot pies, Jordan Luck at the local pub, struggling without marmite, Buck Shelford's, ahem, injuries, and blaming foreigners for the housing crisis. Photo: RNZ / supplied / Photosport
On Morning Report this morning, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said cultural practices were taken into account in the process of a thorough background check.
"Matters such as polygamy obviously rule them out from a cultural perspective, but after that immigration and security services do their own vetting, in association with their partners, so that as far as we can be, we are satisfied those who are coming are the most in need and are who they say they are," he said.
But who exactly can define "New Zealand values"? The wits on Twitter have given it a good go.
The hashtag #New Zealand Values has now been trending for more than 12 hours.
Some of the Tweets have a political tone.
living on your parents' money & demanding people in lower socio-economic brackets work harder and live within their means #NewZealandValues
— fresher than u (@RUOKAnny) June 13, 2016
Coming over here... taking Maori land... then complaining about Chinese coming over here... taking our land. #newzealandvalues
— Guy Williams (@guywilliamsguy) June 13, 2016
Blaming Auckland house prices on "the Chinese" and assuming all Chinese home owners aren't NZ citizens #NewZealandValues
— Single Brown Female (@SianChristinaK) June 13, 2016
If you disagree with someone, throw a dildo at them #newzealandvalues
— Chris (@Lukeurmyson) June 13, 2016
Others don't limit themselves to New Zealand politics.
constant small-minded comparing ourselves with unruly crass neighbour #newzealandvalues
— Jack Craw (@jackcraw57) June 13, 2016
being proud to not be as racist as australia #NewZealandValues
— fresher than u (@RUOKAnny) June 13, 2016
Some focus on New Zealand's own race relations.
I'm not racist I have Māori friends #newzealandvalues
— George Fenwick (@george_fenwick_) June 13, 2016
being a proud 1/16th Māori only when you're called out for your racist bullshit #NewZealandValues
— fresher than u (@RUOKAnny) June 13, 2016
When brown people are only on the front page of the newspaper as sports heroes or criminals #newzealandvalues
— hjss (@hilstace) June 13, 2016
#NewZealandValues
— Exordium_Antipodean (@Exordium_Kiwi) June 13, 2016
sumthin about diversity and the treaty of waitangi and pretty sure the haka is involved too all blacks and the Treaty..
Im not racist, but *insert racist comment*#NewZealandValues
— fuimaono-sapolu (@Eliota_Sapolu) June 13, 2016
Polynesians are "kiwis" when they do good things.
— βranδon (@JusSumWun) June 13, 2016
And "Polynesians" when they do bad. #NewZealandValues
Not caring/too lazy to pronounce our "Polynesian" names correctly. #NewZealandValues
— CallMeKeeds_ (@IAmKeeds_) June 13, 2016
Many of them are very topical.
When @helenkellyUnion is denied her medicine of choice by the government, lack of #NewZealandValues?
— Kiwi Cannasseur (@KiwiCannasseur) June 13, 2016
When the govt say they aim to make housing affordable for everyone but U can't get a decent house without a milli. #NewZealandValues
— CallMeKeeds_ (@IAmKeeds_) June 13, 2016
100% clean, green and drowning in debt #newzealandvalues
— Shayden Cathro (@ShaydenCathro) June 13, 2016
Moving to the Gold Coast. #NewZealandValues
— Anya - Chatty lass (@CabbageMittens) June 13, 2016
And some are less so. But who can forget Marmaggedon?
the lack of marmite being a feature news story for months #newzealandvalues
— max (@justjuicepapi) June 13, 2016
Some bring up Aotearoa's own cultural quirks.
answering "yeah nah" to everything. #newzealandvalues
— charlie ♡ (@dashofcharlie) June 13, 2016
Having strict guidelines regarding when togs become undies #NewZealandValues
— Bex (@BexieLady) June 13, 2016
Pre loading before the school ball #NewZealandValues
— Richard Everson (@EversonRick87) June 13, 2016
saying 'bloody good day for it' without actually saying what 'it' is
— Morgan Godfery (@MorganGodfery) June 13, 2016
they know #newzealandvalues
pouring your wine goon into a fancy glass and telling people it's church road merlot #newzealandvalues
— Morgan Godfery (@MorganGodfery) June 13, 2016
Rolling up your school uniform skirt in fourth form #NewZealandValues
— 'Ana Coffey (@jandal_life) June 13, 2016
For a country that can amass thousands of tweets about its values, we're, well, a little insecure.
Always needing to ask visitors to NZ what they think about the place five minutes after getting here #newzealandvalues
— Jacquie Walters (@WaltersPRnz) June 13, 2016
Asking visiting overseas celebrities how much they love New Zealand values #newzealandvalues
— Sam Warburton (@Economissive) June 13, 2016
This hashtag is genuinely depressing. We are the worst. #newzealandvalues
— Dan Dalgety (@dandalgety) June 13, 2016
Some tweets show clear evidence of a lot of screen time.
Coronation Street on Friday for two hours, and an hour on Saturdays. #newzealandvalues
— David Ritchie (@dritchie) June 13, 2016
Informing the general public that it is the law that you must blow on the pie. #NewZealandValues
— Rich-Mozày (@WhoisMRICH) June 13, 2016
Not being afraid to tell TV presenters when they are "too pregnant" to be on MY telly #NewZealandValues
— Eli Matthewson (@EliMatthewson) June 13, 2016
Having a mate that was in Lord Of The Rings #NewZealandValues
— Dean Nimbly (@Dean_Nimbly) June 13, 2016
Not offering your ghost chips to the person next to you #newzealandvalues
— Andrew Kay (@AndrewKayNZ) June 13, 2016
A lot of New Zealand values seem pretty reckless.
Saying "she'll be right" in v sketchy situations #newzealandvalues
— DJ GARDENER HOLMES (@ryandennehy) June 13, 2016
Trolling the Police on FB whilst there's a warrant out for your arrest. #NewZealandValues
— Rich-Mozày (@WhoisMRICH) June 13, 2016
using a roll-up as a mouth guard #newzealandvalues
— zayn (@sauvignonpapi) June 13, 2016
Going to work because you can't afford time off even though you're sick #newzealandvalues
— Ta'ase (@sataylish) June 13, 2016
Eating is cheating #newzealandvalues
— Dean Nimbly (@Dean_Nimbly) June 13, 2016
Don't forget the importance of sport.
Buck Shelford's torn scrotum #newzealandvalues
— John Palethorpe (@MrDuttonPeabody) June 13, 2016
Ryan Crotty's playing a tad direct for my liking, he should be standing a fraction wider of the ruck #newzealandvalues
— Woburn's Finest (@WoburnsFinest) June 13, 2016
Perpetually hating on Wayne Barnes #newzealandvalues
— Kate Dougherty (@KTPossum) June 13, 2016
Rugby metaphors in conversation despite no interest in or history of playing Rugby #newzealandvalues #scrumtogether
— James Nokise (@JamesNokise) June 13, 2016
And food.
Can't get a decent sausage roll anywhere anymore #NewZealandValues
— Andre Hansen (@Andr3Ag0g) June 13, 2016
Winter; Fejoa jam, Fejoa pie, Fejoa cake, Fejoa juice, Fejoa face mask #NewZealandValues
— Manisha (@slay_nisha) June 13, 2016
When Big Ben pies were $1 but are now $1.30. #NewZealandValues
— Vannah (@_chocfudgecake) June 13, 2016
When those 50c lolly bags at the dairy now cost $2 #NewZealandValues
— Taimania Toia (Tai) (@hey_tai_) June 13, 2016
A multinational burger chain sticks beetroot and egg in, claims it's our tucker #newzealandvalues
— Jon Minhinnick (@JonMinhinnick) June 13, 2016
All new immigrants must eat a marmite and chip sandwich upon arrival to New Zealand #newzealandvalues
— Andrew Chen (@andrewmeows) June 13, 2016
And music.
Not knowing why love does this to me #newzealandvalues
— Rob Hosking (@robhosking) June 13, 2016
Jordan Luck screaming into a mic at the local pub #newzealandvalues
— Stu (@StuOld) June 13, 2016
Māori music being categorised as "World Music" at @JBHiFiNZ
— Cameron Sang (@happyfishmedia) June 13, 2016
#NewZealandValues
And then there's poor old Hamilton
Avoiding Hamilton by any means possible when on a road trip #newzealandvalues
— future seena (@futureseena) June 13, 2016
Trash talking Hamilton #newzealandvalues
— Shayden Cathro (@ShaydenCathro) June 13, 2016
Hamilton trying to understand what the hell it did to the rest of the country. #newzealandvalues
— Craig Ranapia (@CMRanapia) June 13, 2016
New Zealand relationships in a nutshell.
Getting drunk and taking someone home for a root and then moving in together the next day cos too it's awkward to leave #NewZealandValues
— UrFavSamplerBiscuit (@bekathrills) June 13, 2016
The great New Zealand "Big OE."
Heading off to see the world. Spending 5years at the Shepherd's Bush Walkabout #NewZealandValues
— keren phillips (@kerenyP) June 13, 2016
Full cycle cultural cringe: Where you're damned if you stay, damned if you leave, damned no matter where you succeed. #newzealandvalues
— Craig Ranapia (@CMRanapia) June 13, 2016
And don't forget, Aotearoa has three official languages - but there's a whole other one.
Have no idea what number 8 wire looks like, but believe implicitly it is shit hot. #newzealandvalues
— Craig Ranapia (@CMRanapia) June 13, 2016
flashing your lights to warn other drivers there's a speed camera ahead #newzealandvalues
— Morgan Godfery (@MorganGodfery) June 13, 2016
#newzealandvalues Noticing a z when it's half a page ahead of where you're up to and checking because it might say New Zealand.
— Phil Garnock-Jones (@theobrominated) June 13, 2016
@MorganGodfery ladies bring a plate #newzealandvalues
— W (@formerlyfrozen) June 13, 2016
Shag is a bird,an activity, and generic term for an acquaintance #newzealandvalues
— Fixn'it (@DieselfitterKn) June 13, 2016
Yeah Nah, means Yeah #YeahNah #newzealandvalues
— Fixn'it (@DieselfitterKn) June 13, 2016
Except when it doesn't that is.
