Two Wongs not sure what's right

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Photo / Dean Purcell

Two Aucklanders who share the name Wong have different opinions on Winston Peters' "two Wongs" joke.

Property manager Dennis Wong found the comment "pretty offensive". "I think it's quite unnecessary," he said.

Mr Wong is from Hong Kong and has lived in New Zealand for more than 13 years.

"I've stayed here for quite a long time. The thing is, I just don't think it's necessary to be racist.

"In New Zealand, they don't want to have any racism at all so what is the reason why a politician wants to be racist first? ... I've never liked Winston Peters."

Auckland University Junior Rugby Club secretary Malo Wong said that although she wasn't offended by the comment, she understood why others would be.

"I didn't think it was offensive, I thought it was quite funny, actually."

Ms Wong said that as she grew up with the surname, people had joked about it, but it hadn't bothered her.

"I didn't take offence to it at all. I think because I'm probably half-Chinese ... I think I'm kind of used to it really - being New Zealand-born, you hear it all the time. I'm okay with it. It's just the way it is."