Prime Minister Bill English says a racist attack caught on camera over the weekend doesn't suggest New Zealand has a problem with Islamophobia.
A group of Muslim women were subjected to a tirade of abuse from a stranger in Huntly on Saturday. A woman called them "f**king Muslim bitches" and threw a can of beer at them.
A woman is due to appear in court on Monday charged with assault, assault with a weapon and using offensive language.
"There's no place for that kind of attack here," Mr English told The AM Show on Monday.
"People living in New Zealand should feel safe regardless of where they come from."
Mr English hopes the woman who used the offensive language "gets her life sorted out", and doesn't think her behaviour's indicative of a growing intolerance of multiculturalism, which some have linked to the rise of Donald Trump and the Brexit vote in the UK.
"Let's not get it out of perspective - I don't believe in New Zealand we have the level of tension and conflict that's become a bit more common in Europe, and we want to make sure we don't get it," says Mr English.
"I think New Zealand has a pretty tolerant culture. It is important though we don't allow some of the splits and divisions in the Middle East to somehow affect people's attitudes here, or the discussion in the US. We're a tolerant and fair country."
His words are backed by the Islamic Women's Council. Spokeswoman Anjum Rahman told The AM Show the incident "has nothing to do with what's been happening overseas".
"I think this young woman was really troubled, and it was something that happened."
If anything, she believes Mr Trump's failed attempt at a 'Muslim travel ban' in the US has actually galvanised support for tolerance and multiculturalism.
"When it first came out we were feeling quite a lot of fear... but what we've seen since then and the rallies, and the legal work, and the messages of support show us people are not happy with this, and don't want this to be the way the world develops."
Mr English reiterated his view that New Zealand would never implement a similar kind of ban.
"We don't agree with the policy, and we wouldn't implement it… that's up to them."
Mehpara Khan, one of the group who filmed the attack on her phone, has offered to meet with the woman and have a "constructive conversation".
"I would be happy to actually try and understand why she feels the way she does," Ms Khan told Newshub on Saturday.
"You can't necessarily blame people for being misinformed."
Ms Rahman praised Ms Khan's handling of the incident.
"I was following her tweets and knowing that she was feeling really upset and shaken, and yet to be able to stand up and respond to this with such dignity and composure, I'm really impressed with the way they've dealt with this."
Newshub.
