London mayor Sadiq Khan says it "absolutely" bothers him Britain has made it harder for Kiwis to live and work in the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, London mayor Sadiq Khan, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo: RNZ/Craig McCulloch
Mr Khan made the comments after a town-hall event in London attended by the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. Ms Ardern had met with Ms May earlier in the day.
Mr Khan said the UK government had to be careful not to appear opposed to people visiting the country, after it had increased the surcharge for New Zealanders who stay in the country longer than six months.
"What we don't want is a toxic, hostile environment being created so people in New Zealand are [under] the mistaken impression that we're going to somehow become inward and insular-looking.
"One of the things I've been stressing since the Brexit vote is that London is open. London is open to talent, to creativity, to business to entrepreneurship. And look at the relationship between London and New Zealand, it's been a two-way stream."
London's future was dependant on continuing to be a diverse city and welcoming to New Zealanders, he said.
"That's the story of London," he said.
Mr Khan confessed to "gushing" over the chance to meet Ms Ardern, a "role model, feminist prime minister".
"Us progressives celebrate when progressives do well."
In response, Ms Ardern quipped that answer "didn't cost much".