Brash accused of racism over 'bedrock' comments

National leader Don Brash has been accused of racism following his call for a ban on migrants who don't hold "bedrock" New Zealand values.

Dr Brash told an Auckland conference on migration and investment that New Zealand had to be cautious about immigrants that don't share "an acceptance of democracy and the rule of law, religious and personal freedom and legal equality of the sexes".

"If you don't accept these fundamentals, then New Zealand isn't the place for you," he said.

Javed Khan, president of the Federation of Islamic Associations, said the speech made it clear that Dr Brash wanted immigrants to fit his view of a mainstream New Zealander, and therefore excluded people such as Muslims.

He was backed by Federation of Ethnic Councils' president Pancha Narayanan, who said Dr Brash's comment that immigrants should have a good command of English, or quickly learn the language, showed he would prefer them to come from English-speaking countries. The speech had an element of racism and an anti-Muslim tone, he said.

Last night Greens MP Keith Locke accused Dr Brash of being narrow-minded in how immigrants were to apply democracy.

"Clearly, Dr Brash doesn't understand one core or bedrock value - the right to protest. At the end of his speech he criticised one would-be citizen by saying, 'You can't be a New Zealander and write to foreign newspapers urging a boycott of New Zealand exports'. In fact, free expression is guaranteed under our Bill of Rights. We have every right to ask foreigners to boycott, for example, environmentally unfriendly New Zealand exports," Mr Locke said.

"... He said that if you wanted to promote religious fundamentalism, then perhaps New Zealand is not the right place for you. This could exclude migrants from one of his support groups, the fundamentalist Exclusive Brethren ... who clearly put women in a secondary role, and prohibit their members from voting."

Dr Brash declined to comment last night.