ACT MP Laura McClure will ask Winston Peters to challenge China over a law taking effect Wednesday that allows Beijing to target people outside its borders for undermining ethnic unity or inciting separatism.
McClure, a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said she will contact the Foreign Affairs Minister by email to push for discussions with Chinese officials about the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion law.
"It's a suggestion that Beijing believes it can reach beyond those borders and potentially intimidate or punish people living in free democracies like New Zealand or Australia or Canada," McClure said.
She stressed New Zealand's sovereignty, saying "we do have our own domestic laws here. And we do protect the rights and freedoms of New Zealanders, no matter if they're born here or if they immigrate here".
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China will discuss the law on Wednesday. Australia's government raised concerns directly with China over the legislation.
SIS reports have documented foreign interference, and some groups in New Zealand already feel unable to freely attend protests or Taiwanese events due to Chinese government intimidation. McClure was one of four New Zealand MPs barred from entering China for a year following a Taiwan visit.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is aware of the law and is currently assessing it.