National Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee is standing by his calls to have Russia's Ambassador to New Zealand booted from the country.
Brownlee's comments come after the Government on Monday stepped up its efforts to support Ukraine, including an extra $13.1 million dollars for military, legal and human rights support.
Fifty New Zealand Defence Force troops will also be deployed to Europe on Wednesday to provide further support.
Brownlee, who is also a former Foreign Affairs Minister said New Zealand could still do more.
He told AM the Government has no use for the Russian Ambassador and he should be expelled.
Brownlee said expelling the Ambassador would send a statement to the rest of the world that "we don't tolerate and have no time for the absolutely uncalled for aggression by Russia".
"I can't see the point in having [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's mouthpiece sitting in Wellington," Brownlee said, adding the Ambassador "should be on his bike".
"It's something that would be a very good signal - not only for people here in New Zealand but for other nations that look to countries like ours to protect democracy."
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee wants the Ambassador, at the very least, to appear before them, Brownlee said.
"The committee itself… have asked the Russian Ambassador to come in so we can, on behalf of Parliament, explain to him how inappropriate his Government's actions have been."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday expelling the Ambassador remained an option.
Ardern told reporters New Zealand had a "raft of options in front of us".
"To be honest, my view is that we have used far more powerful tools to date whilst of course keeping on the table those other diplomatic options. You'll see that very few countries have recalled their diplomatic representatives from Russia."
Ardern said while some Western powers had expelled their Russian Ambassadors, not all had.
"That's because, of course, between sanctions, tariffs, travel bans, export bans, providing military aid, providing equipment to Ukraine - when it comes to expelling Ambassadors, that also means that you lose your representation in those countries.
"I still wouldn't rule it out in the future but of the things that we're considering, the impact that they will have on the conflict is far greater than this diplomatic tool."
Brownlee did welcome the Government's move on Monday to step up its Ukraine efforts.
"I think it's appropriate and proportionate," he said.
"We would hope, also, that it's part of an ongoing consideration by the Government as to how we continue helping people in Ukraine defeat the huge aggression inflicted on them by Russia.
"Let's not take away from the fact New Zealand is stepping up here and I think that's a good thing."
Former New Zealand Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said our contribution to the humanitarian effort in Europe will not go amiss.
Mapp, who was Defence Minister under Sir John Key's National Government between 2008 and 2014, told Newshub Live at 8pm on Monday New Zealand's efforts will be well received.
"I have to say the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence have done a pretty good job in sorting this all out and making sure New Zealand is playing an effective part."
