NZ First leader Winston Peters is hitting back at Greens co-leader Metiria Turei for a remark alleging racism.
Ms Turei told TVNZ's Q&A programme on Sunday that Mr Peters was "on a roll at the moment" and her party could work with him if it had to after the election in September.
She said he had a very racist approach to the issue of immigration.
Mr Peters has hit back in a speech in Balclutha.
"My warning to the Greens is don't call New Zealand First racist - an allegation that is spurious - and think there won't be consequences."
It was parties like the Greens that would take New Zealand down "the pathway to racial separatism", he said.
"We are calling out the Greens right now," he said.
He said the Greens had a "racially jingoistic attitude" towards the ownership of water.
"They are happy for water to be not owned by the people of New Zealand, but rather just some of the people of New Zealand.
"In fact, the Greens believe Maori own the water."
Mr Peters said racially separatist policies were deeply entrenched in the Greens' policies.
The general election is on September 23. Both the Greens and NZ First had 9 per cent support in the latest Colmar Brunton poll.
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