'Crass': PM responds to Jones' 'take off your knee pads' remark

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has responded to what he calls "crass" comments by New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones over the weekend. At the New Zealand First convention in Auckland, Jones made the comments when speaking on other political parties dealing with India while referencing the <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/11/thousands-welcome-modi-at-auckland-rally-as-protesters-gather-outside/" target="_blank">recent visit</a> of its Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. "The next time you go to an ethno-nationalist rally to receive a foreign leader, take off your knee pads." Speaking to RNZ this morning, Luxon labelled Jones' comments as "crass and unprofessional". "I'm actually super proud of our Indian FTA. I'm actually proud of the team and all the efforts that went in to host a a significant world leader, prime minister Modi." Luxon added it was "a bit hypocritical for New Zealand First to be against the Indian FTA while they've got their colleague, the Associate Agriculture Minister <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/13/nz-first-minister-spruiks-wool-in-india-amid-partys-trade-deal-fury/" target="_blank">Mark Patterson</a> out there in India trying to sell tariff-free New Zealand wool under the FTA to Indians." Speaking to The Post, Jones said the comment was "a common expression" he used to demonstrate "a ridiculous level of obsequiousness". In the past, Jones had likened Indians coming to New Zealand under the Free Trade Agreement as a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/20/jones-butter-chicken-tsunami-comment-scaremongering-says-pm/" target="_blank">"butter chicken tsunami"</a>. After criticism, Jones said he used the comments as a hyperbole to get <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/21/shane-jones-addresses-butter-chicken-tsunami-comment/" target="_blank">"cut through"</a>.