Jacinda Ardern says NZ high commission in India should have used 'normal' channels to get oxygen

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern said in a television interview to News 1 that the country's high commission in India should have used "normal" channels to get oxygen.

However, Ardern added that it was important to note that help was needed for a local staffer inside the commission's compound who was "very unwell".

Yesterday, the New Zealand high commission in Delhi had tagged Indian Youth Congress handles asking "urgently" for an oxygen cylinder. The Youth Congress has been coordinating relief materials and help for Covid across the country.

Soon after, the tweet was deleted; many on Twitter speculated that the commission was pressured to do so. The high commission later posted that its appeal had been "misinterpreted".

Meanwhile, Srinivas BV, the national president of the Youth Congress, tweeted that cylinders had been supplied to the high commission.

News 1's anchor asked Ardern whether it was a "good look" for the high commission to "directly" ask an opposition party wing for help. The prime minister said the high commission had "acknowledged" that it was not the process that should have been used and that the high commission was "very well-supported" by the Indian government.