WELLINGTON - New Zealand's Latin American community has expressed concerns after two members of parliament (MPs) made comments such as "send the Mexicans home".

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters told two Green Party MPs Lawrence Xu-Nan and Francisco Hernandez in a parliament debate to "show some gratitude" for being in New Zealand on Tuesday, following Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones' comment in the House "send the Mexicans home". Both Peters and Jones represent the New Zealand First Party.

After Mexico's ambassador in New Zealand raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peters said on Friday the comments "may have been expressed differently".

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Peters said he felt nothing but friendship for the Mexican people, and looked forward to meeting the ambassador at the Waitangi Day celebration next week to discuss the matter, according to a statement released by Peters' spokesperson.

The statement was seen "as a political move rather than a genuine admission of wrongdoing", according to a news article of Radio New Zealand (RNZ).

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told all parties to watch their language.

The comments were "racist and xenophobic" and fostered discrimination against the Mexican community, the RNZ article quoted a leader of New Zealand's Latin American community as saying.