A white supremacist has attacked a new Green Party candidate, saying they have "no right" to get involved with New Zealand politics because they are a "paper citizen".
Francisco Hernandez was announced on Friday as the Greens' candidate for the Dunedin electorate.
Hernandez said in a tweet he was "humbled" to be selected and will focus on tackling the cost of living crisis, advocating for fully-funded public services and protecting the climate and nature.
Philip Arps, a white supremacist who was jailed for 21 months after sharing footage of the March 15 terror attacks, responded to Hernandez's tweet asking if he was "NZ-born".
"I really feel strongly about paper citizens' involvement within New Zealand politics," Arps said.
"They have absolutely no right as it amounts to international political high treason of which NZ is awash with."
A "paper citizen" refers to citizenship by grant where someone moves to a different country and then establishes citizenship there. Along with citizenship by grant, the other types of citizenship in New Zealand are by birth and by descent.
Hernandez said he had received "a handful of racist comments" since announcing he was the Greens' candidate earlier in the week.
"I didn't notice that the CEO of racism and unironic white supremacist showed up on the platform yesterday," he said.
Hernandez said he wasn't born in New Zealand - he is from the Philippines - but spoke about the "proud anti-fascist tradition" Otago has.
When Newshub asked Hernandez about Arps's comments, he said: "Obviously it doesn't feel great being on the receiving end of hateful comments. But I've had massive support from people pushing back against Arps. I'm a proud citizen of Aotearoa New Zealand.
"Phil Arps' views are hateful, in a minority and don't reflect what most New Zealanders believe in."
The newly elected Green Party candidate said he is in the party because it stands up for what Kiwis believe in. He said this is "protecting our beautiful natural environment, ensuring everyone has what they need to live a good life and valuing the beautiful, diverse and modern Aotearoa where everyone of all creeds, races, gender identities and abilities feel loved and included."
"Even though I wasn't born in Aotearoa New Zealand, my values represent the values of New Zealanders and Phil Arps do not," Hernandez added.
It is Hernandez's first time being a parliamentary candidate for the Greens, although he did work as a staffer with them from 2014-2017.
He currently works as a local government climate change advisor and was previously involved in student politics.
