Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visiting a Costco store in Tokyo. Photo: RNZ/ Nate McKinnon
The Labour leader is defending the business delegations he travelled with, saying they included chief executives and company chairs from major exporters.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has come under fire after describing former business delegations as C-listers and tag-alongs
In an interview with NewstalkZB before his trip to Japan, Luxon said the business leaders travelling with him were high-calibre in comparison with those under Labour.
When asked about the comments in Tokyo on Tuesday, Luxon said his words had been taken out of context.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins defended the group he took to China when he was prime minister.
Labour on PM's comments about former business delegations
"It included chief executives or company chairs from our major exporters like Air New Zealand, Fonterra, Zespri, Silver Fern Farms, Comvita."
Hipkins told Morning Report he Luxon was sending the wrong message with his comments.
"I honestly don't know what Christopher Luxon is doing here.
"Christopher Luxon only seems to know how to talk himself up by talking other people down and I think that's becoming a problem for New Zealand."
New Zealand businesses had done an "amazing job" under tough circumstances, Hipkins said.
"It was a really tough time over the last 6 years... and yet our exports grew during that time, I think that's a testament to the grit that New Zealand businesses have.
"Rather than talking them down, and saying that they're c-listers, Christopher Luxon should be giving them the credit that they're due."