The controversial 60 Minutes Australia documentary about New Zealand's relationship with China aired on Sunday night.
The documentary made waves after a contentious promo video accused New Zealand of ditching its relationship with Australia for a "fast Chinese buck". It also renamed the country as "New Xi-Land", a play on Chinese President Xi Jinping's name.
In the documentary journalist Tom Steinfort claims "Australia is paying a hefty price for storming the high moral ground".
It comes amid increasing tension between Australia and China.
Australian barley imports were hit by 80 percent tariffs from China in May last year, largely seen as a political move in the wake of calls from Australia for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. It's not the only tariff Australia has been facing after speaking out against China's treatment of Uighurs. Beef and lamb, wine, cotton, lobster, timber and coal have also been hit by trade sanctions.
The 60 Minutes documentary focuses heavily on New Zealand's relationship with China. It features Newstalk ZB broadcaster Mike Hosking who says China "basically owns us" because of our heavy reliance on Chinese trade.
In the interview, Hosking also suggests New Zealand is too small to have any real impact on China's decisions.
Head of the Auckland Business Chamber Michael Barnett also features in the documentary where he is grilled about China's treatment of the Uighur people. Barnett said it is a "China issue" and characterises New Zealand's relationship with the nation as "friends with benefits". After the promo video was released Barnett accused Steinfort of trying to push an agenda.
The documentary also features David Babich from Babich Wines speaking about his reliance on the Chinese market and an Australian vineyard owner who says while the tariffs have had crippling consequences, speaking out against China is the right thing to do.
It also criticises New Zealand for its decision not to sign up to Five Eyes statements calling out human rights abuses in China.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta previously defended the decision saying New Zealand was "uncomfortable" with expanding the remit of the intelligence-sharing partnership to comment on issues broader than those relating to security. New Zealand has raised concerns independently and in joint statements with Australia on the issue and others.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Malcolm Davis criticised this decision in the documentary, saying it hadn't been thought through.
"I was disappointed because I think it is an important document to sign, there are clearly gross human rights abuses occurring in Xinjiang against Uighurs.
"Let's be clear we are talking about concentration camps here and I think New Zealand did make an error in judgment in not signing the document."
Davis said the more countries that are reliant on China via trade, the more power it gets. He also suggested New Zealand's independent statements were a recognition that not signing the Five Eyes document was an error.
"I do think that New Zealand has recovered some of the lost ground there," he said.
The documentary also raises issues with the Prime Minister's careful word choice when it comes to China.
However, Jacinda Ardern rejected the accusation that she had "gone soft on China" or "had to sometimes bite her tongue".
"I reject the premise of the question. The idea that we do anything other than stand up strongly for our views and our values and our independent forging policy. I completely reject the notion that we have gone 'soft'."
China's state-affiliated news source Global Times responded to the documentary calling it another attempt from Australia to pressure New Zealand.
"The NZ govt strives to stay independent and sober-headed, while Australia cozies up the US and earned the label of "deputy sheriff" in South Pacific," the media outlet claimed.
Social media reaction to the documentary was mixed. One person accused New Zealand of selling its soul and betraying our ANZAC friendship.
"So much for our ANZAC friends across the ditch....selling their soul and loosing respect from me personally (sic).....not that it will change anything....but you must have morals to walk with your head high....!!! Shame they sell out for money."
While another suggested New Zealand was thinking about the big picture while Australia wasn't.
"NZ is thinking about the bigger picture and being calm about it, u catch more with honey than a stick, and frankly China has the power to easily squash us and NZ in an instant! Yes U.S. will help but the damage (possibly of people’s lives) would have already been done! Or another way to look at it, NZ is doing what it needs to to care are survive! The whole country! (sic)?"
Earlier in May, New Zealand politicians expressed grave concern about severe human rights abuses occurring in the north-western Chinese province of Xinjiang. A large number of reports have emerged in recent years suggesting the Uighur population is subject to torture, brainwashing and sterilisation.
Despite China denying the abuses, some countries have declared acts of genocide are occurring but New Zealand didn't go as far as labelling it genocide.
