Winston Peters' Migrant Gratefulness Narrative

The event centers on the political rhetoric in New Zealand concerning immigrants, specifically the 'migrant gratefulness narrative' propagated by politicians like Winston Peters of New Zealand. This narrative demands gratitude from immigrants for being in the country, reframing access to public services as a gift rather than a right. Research by Ágnes Szabó and Mary Breheny shows that migrants often internalize these expectations, sometimes attributing experiences of racism to a lack of gratitude. The articles highlight the irony that New Zealand's economy is heavily dependent on migrant labor, suggesting that the state should show gratitude to migrants rather than demanding it. Similar rhetoric is also noted in Australia by Pauline Hanson.