Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been grilled by Kiwi journalists accusing New Zealand officials of "shoving" and "grabbing" reporters during the China Premier's visit.
Premier Li Qiang visited New Zealand last week to mark 10 years since the conclusion of the NZ China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It was the first visit to New Zealand by a Premier from China since 2017.
During his visit, journalists were told not to ask questions. Now, instances of New Zealand officials obstructing journalists from questioning the Premier have emerged.
At a Wednesday press conference during Luxon's visit to Japan, reporters raised with the Prime Minister instances of alleged mistreatment by New Zealand officials.
One reporter claimed they were physically grabbed by an official while trying to ask a question, while another said they were shoved.
Luxon said he was unaware of the incident and urged the reporter to lay a formal complaint so it could be investigated.
"What I'm saying to you is it doesn't sound acceptable and, therefore, raise the issue formally so we can respond to that."
Luxon defended the decision not to allow journalists to ask questions of the Premier.
"I think we are really proud of the fact that we are very accessible to the journalists in New Zealand and the media, and that's important. It's an important part of our democracy," he said. "But we also have to respect, as hosts of countries coming into New Zealand, and/or when we're offshore that there are different protocols - that doesn't preclude me from making myself available to you to ask me anything you wish."
In Australia, meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has raised concerns about the treatment of journalists in Parliament with Li during a signing ceremony earlier this week.
Chinese officials had tried to block a journalist from watching Albanese and Li sign agreements.
"Australian officials intervened, as they should have, to ask the Chinese officials who were there at the press conference to move and they did so," Albanese told ABC Australia Wednesday.
"There should be no impediments to Australian journalists going about their job and we've made that clear to the Chinese embassy."
