Air New Zealand has been attacked for sharp differences in how its staff are paid, with Chinese crew members receiving just over a quarter of the salary of those from New Zealand.

The comments labelling the largely state-owned company as a 'flying sweatshop' were made by the former immigration minister, Tuariki John Delamere. The pay, set by a Chinese company acting as agent for the airline, is below the New Zealand legal minimum wage.

Chinese staff have said that they felt 'duped' when they accepted a job from Air New Zealand only to then find that they would be contracted via a Chinese company on Chinese pay and conditions.  Another complained that they were "treated like monkeys."