Most New Zealanders are the descendants of British immigrants, and for them to abandon their identity as members of the British Commonwealth and embrace developing Asia is a painful struggle. Winston Peters advocates maintaining equal relations with Asia and Europe. On the other hand, Asia doesn't necessarily welcome Australia and New Zealand either. For instance, the antagonistic attitude of Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad makes the pro-Asia faction very nervous.
紐西蘭人多是英國移民的後裔，要他們放下大英國協的身段，擁抱開發中的亞洲，是很痛苦的掙扎，彼得斯就主張與亞、歐維持等距關係；但另一方面亞洲還不見得要紐、澳，馬來西亞的總理馬哈迪就持反對態度，讓親亞派緊張得不得了。