Beijing said on June 4 that it barred a group of New Zealand lawmakers from entering China after they visited officials in Taiwan in May, accusing them of interfering in Chinese domestic affairs.

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.