Beijing says it is barring a group of New Zealand lawmakers from entering China for having visited Taiwan in May. It is the first time such a ban has been imposed on politicians from New Zealand.

The MPs who took part in the five-day visit in May were National’s Maureen Pugh, Labour’s Duncan Webb, ACT’s Laura McClure and NZ First’s David Wilson.

'Shocked' MP said Taiwan is an important economic and cultural partner to New Zealand.