Luxon speaks to Peters about comments: 'That's a conversation between us'

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he has had a conversation with Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, following his tirade towards a Chinese-born MP in Parliament last week.

New Zealand First's leader responded to heckling in the House on Wednesday last week by attacking the Greens' Lawrence Xu-nan, telling him to go back to his own country.

Earlier Monday morning, Luxon confirmed to Morning Report he had not yet spoken to Peters directly, but said the comments were racist.

Speaking at the post-cab media conference on Monday afternoon, Luxon said he had spoken to Peters, but refused to outline what exactly was discussed, nor would he say whether he expressed disappointment in his foreign minister.

"My conversation will stay between Winston and me," said Luxon.

"I've addressed it. I've had a conversation with Winston. That's a conversation between us."

Asked why he did not contact Peters over the weekend, Luxon said it was better "when we're in person in a place like this on a Monday".

"It worked better for us to have a quick chat."

Asked directly whether Peters was acting professionally according to the Cabinet Manual, Luxon repeated again that he'd had a conversation with Peters and it would stay between them.

Luxon reiterated his view the comments were offensive and unacceptable, and suggested if people feel that language was unacceptable to "party vote National".

He also said it was his view Peters should apologise, "but it's up to him to determine what he wants to do".

Luxon would not say if he would have Peters as foreign minister again if he won the election, saying that was all "hypothetical", nor would he be drawn on questions about the risk to coalition stability if Luxon were to discipline or try fire Peters.

Labour's campaign chair Kieran McAnulty said Luxon should sack Peters because he had "embarrassed the country" and offended the largest trading partner.

"I reckon he'd look like he's actually grown a pair by dealing with someone that has seriously jeopardised an important relationship with our largest trading partner."

He said it "doesn't wash" that the prime minister said he'd had a conversation with Peters and it would stay between them.

"What I think actually happened is Luxon asked for a conversation, Winston laughed in his face and walked away.

"That's why they're keeping it quiet because it didn't go very well for Christopher Luxon."

He stopped short of ruling Peters out as a future foreign minister under a Labour-led government, saying it was not his job as a spokesperson, but reiterated that leader Chris Hipkins had said he would sack Peters for making those comments if he was foreign minister in his government.

Members of the country's Chinese community are calling for Peters to be sacked from Cabinet , with some saying they would consider shifting their allegiances in the upcoming election due to the lack of action from the current government.