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Radio Tarana Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, one of two Indian MPs in the National Party, talks to Radio Tarana's Sanjesh Narain.

Indian community leaders are appalled over MP Jami-Lee Ross' comments about the respective value of Chinese and Indian MPs.

The comments were made in a phone call between Ross and National leader Simon Bridges where the pair discussed a $100,000 donation to the party.

Ross recorded the phone call, in which Bridges also called West Coast MP Maureen Pugh "f...ing useless", and released it on Wednesday.

Kevin Stent/Stuff Rogue MP Jami-Lee Ross' comments about Indian MPs have been criticised.

In the recording, Bridges can be heard mulling the benefits of having another Chinese MP in the party: "Two Chinese would be nice, but would it be one Chinese or one Filipino? What do we do?" he asked.

READ MORE:

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* Rogue National MP Jami-Lee Ross to lay police complaint

* After a horrendous day, Nats leader Simon Bridges is still standing - for now

"Two Chinese would be more valuable than two Indians, I have to say," Ross replied.

There are currently two Indian MPs in the National party - Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, a list MP based in Manukau East, and Dr Parmjeet Parmar, a list MP based in Mount Roskill.

Veer Khar, president of the Indian Association of New Zealand, said the group took a "very strong exception" to Ross' comments, and would be "coming out very strong about this".

Indian High Commissioner Sanvij Kohli also tweeted about the comments, saying the recording showed a "total lack of appreciation" for the Indian community in New Zealand.

Nigel Moffiet/Stuff Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi is one of two Indian MPs in National Party.

"Comparing two communities is not only insane but also against the very core of this multi ethnic society."

Kohli has been contacted for further comment.

Bhav Dillon, India's honorary consul in Auckland, said Ross' comments were "highly unfortunate".

ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF Embattled National leader Simon Bridges.

He said the contributions made by Indian people to the country had been disparaged.

"The community has a feeling of being referred to as an inanimate vote bank and made to feel inhuman and more like a donation-gathering machine."

Bakshi, however, said he was satisfied with Bridges' explanation of the comments.

Chris Skelton/Stuff Paramjeet Parmar is the National list MP based in Mount Roskill.

He said Bridges had called him on Wednesday to clarify that Ross, not him, had made the comments about Indian MPs.

"I think the clarification given by the leader has satisfied me and the party knows the contribution I have made to the parliament and to the party."

Bakshi said he was confident National valued ethnic diversity, and that was reflected in the party's ethnic composition.

Parmar told Stuff the comments made by Ross showed his typical behaviour.

"We are glad he is not part of caucus anymore."