An Australian news segment featured extraordinary access given by Australia’s Border Force to Kiwis being led across the tarmac in handcuffs before being deported.
The 9 News report, in which the journalist questioned deportees directly, also included incendiary comment from Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who said the flights were Australia’s way of "taking the trash out".
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta yesterday said Mr Dutton’s comments "only serve to trash his own reputation".
"I think they should reflect on how they are portraying the transfer of people back to New Zealand. Dutton’s comments reflect his own personality."
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.
"This is Australia exporting its garbage to New Zealand.
"These people, their criminal offending has been in Australia.
"For all intents and purposes, many have lived the vast bulk of their lives in Australia.
"This is a deplorable move by the Australian Government and we completely disagree with it. However, they are entitled to do it."
"I didn’t mean to suggest that — that is Dutton’s way of describing it."
The comments from her ministers were starkly different from the subdued tone taken by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who refused to be drawn into a "tit-for-tat" when questioned on the topic.
"Everyone is aware of our view on this and it is strongly held. The Australian Government is within their rights. It just so happens we strongly disagree," she told reporters.
"I won’t get into a tit-for-tat."
Earlier, National leader Judith Collins called for retaliation, for New Zealand to start sending Australian criminals back there.
"We cannot be the dumping ground for everything wrong that’s happened in Australia with people and criminal behaviour," she told 1News.
"They need to have some of them come back to them."
She also said the relationship between New Zealand and Australia at the government level was probably the "worst" in many years.
However, Ms Ardern disputed this, saying despite consistently voicing their opposition to the Australian deportation policy it had "not changed the fact we have a very strong relationship".
"There has been no breakdown in our relationship at all. We have an excellent relationship with our counterparts. Myself and Scott Morrison speak frequently and work together often — it just so happens on this issue we strongly disagree."
The issue of the 501 deportees has been a hot topic in New Zealand,
and the policy, previously described by Ms Ardern as having a "corrosive" effect on transtasman relations, has been criticised for its indiscriminate nature, which has resulted in New Zealanders who have spent a lifetime in Australia deported after minor offences.
In the 9 News report, journalist Jordan Fabris questions deportees directly.
Given the opportunity to question a female deportee, whose face was blurred, he asks: "How does it feel to be kicked out of Australia?"
Told to "f*** off" by the woman, Mr Fabris counters with: "Our country doesn’t want you — are you excited to go home?"
But a woman who works with deportees in New Zealand says the report did not accurately reflect the reality of the policy, and could make life harder for returnees.
Aimee Reardon, who works with returnees in her role with Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society (Pars), said that returnees already struggled with thinking that locals recognised them or were looking at them, when that was not always the case.
She said the report did not accurately reflect the ratio of New Zealanders coming back with relatively minor charges, saying they form the majority of deportees — and characterised Mr Dutton’s comments as "ignorant".
She also said that racism played a part in how the policy was enforced, saying there were "ulterior motives" at play.
9 News has been approached for comment.
