Ethnic Communities Minister Jenny Salesa has dined out for lunch on Auckland's Dominion Road today in a bid to drive up falling trade in the Asian restaurant sector.

Some restaurants are reporting as much as 50 percent drop in customers, and have had to lay off staff.

Ms Salesa says people should dine out and there is nothing to fear, and much less than panic, Kiwis should be giving nothing to racism.

Checkpoint reporter Alex Perrottet and cameraman Nick Monro went along to grab a bite to eat.