Racial abuse of Al Noor imam on campaign trail 'very unfortunate', says Jacinda Ardern

Jacinda Ardern says racial abuse of the imam of Al Noor Mosque during her visit to Christchurch was "very unfortunate" and has no place in New Zealand.

Imam Gamal Fouda, alongside other members of the Muslim community, visited Christchurch's Riccarton Mall on Wednesday to see Ardern on her campaign trail.

During the group's walk through the mall, a heckler hurled racial abuse at Fouda and other members of the community.

Stuff reports the woman told Fouda to "go home" and shouted a slew of other slurs.

Ardern told Newshub on Thursday the woman did not represent the majority.

"[She] obviously holds a view held by very, very few [and] expressed an opinion I can only describe as racist.

"I told her there was no place for opinions like that."

Stuff reports Fouda appeared to brush the incident off, but said it was "racism".

"I am a New Zealander," he is quoted as saying.

"I have a New Zealand passport and I've lived here for half my life now...this is my home."