Freeman Yu hands a petition calling for an inquiry to be launched into foreign interference to ACT Party MP Laura McClure (right). Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter
Members of a pro-democracy group have delivered a petition to Parliament that calls on the government to launch an inquiry into Chinese interference in New Zealand and the Pacific.
New Zealand Values Alliance launched the petition in September after a government intelligence report highlighted China as a concern.
Freeman Yu from the NZ Values Alliance handed the petition to ACT Party lawmaker Laura McClure on the steps of Parliament on Tuesday.
"We Chinese New Zealanders have to tell all New Zealanders: Please wake up to face China's interference in New Zealand," he said. "It's very serious. Please wake up, New Zealanders."
The petition claimed the Chinese community did not feel safe in New Zealand because of foreign interference from China.
"We feel that it is having a corrosive impact on NZ democracy, NZ's national security and regional security," the petition said. "We believe NZ needs to face up to the problem."
The petition has gathered more than 1000 signatures so far.