“Never respond to Indians”: NZ minister’s email remark sparks row over bias

New Zealand’s Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford is facing criticism for remarks that many believe stereotype Indians. During a parliamentary exchange on May 6, Stanford admitted to ignoring unsolicited emails seeking immigration advice—specifically highlighting those from Indian senders. She said she “almost regard[s] those as being akin to spam,” a comment that has sparked outrage across communities and political lines.

The issue gained traction after Indian-origin Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan publicly slammed Stanford, saying such comments reinforce harmful stereotypes about an entire ethnic group. Radhakrishnan called the minister’s remarks “careless at best and prejudiced at worst”, demanding more accountability from someone in public office.

Stanford, a cabinet minister from New Zealand’s National Party, was initially addressing concerns about using her personal Gmail account for official work. While defending herself, she noted that she doesn’t open many of the immigration-related emails she receives—particularly those from Indians—comparing them to spam due to their unsolicited nature.

Facing mounting backlash, Stanford attempted to clarify her comments, insisting she had been misunderstood. “I did not say it is automatically considered as spam,” she said, adding that her words were misinterpreted. Still, her explanation has done little to calm criticism from political peers and members of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.