Gerry Brownlee's comments that Finnish people are uneducated and disrespectful to women have sparked outrage and made headlines in the European nation.
"The story is flaming in the Finnish media," Juha Parikka, counsellor to the Embassy of Finland said.
Auckland lecturer Merja Myllylahti has even started a Facebook group, calling for Brownlee to visit Finland "to learn some facts".
"I think anyone in that high of a position should be very careful and not make such comments without knowing their facts," she said. "It's no wonder Finnish media have picked it up."
The Leader of the House was responding to a speech Labour Leader David Shearer made calling for New Zealand to follow in the footsteps of Finland, which he said "transformed their economy through innovation and talent".
"I think we need to understand a few things about Finland," Brownlee said in Parliament on Thursday.
"It's unbelievable isn't it. That you'd actually get someone to go out there and make a speech saying I want New Zealand to be like Finland which has worse unemployment than us, can hardly feed the people who live there, has a terrible homicide rate, hardly educates their people and has no respect for women."
Parikka said he strongly believed Brownlee's comments did not reflect "the Finnish reality". He said Finland did not have any problem feeding its people.
Parikka said Brownlee's speech seemed to be aimed more at the opposition, than Finland.
"It looks like internal bashing and Finland in a way is collateral damage."
He has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Government was planning on responding to Brownlee's comments.
Brownlee's spokesman said the comments were made in humour, were based on OECD figures and were part of a general debate.
Brownlee had no plans to comment further, he said.
Myllylahti said Brownlee needed to put things into context.
"If you know your facts then you say whatever you want it shows that Brownlee doesn't know the basics - he hasn't done his homework," she said.
"It's well known we're one of the best educators in the world - we'd be happy to educate Mr Brownlee.
She said women were highly regarded in Finland.
"We have a government in Finland with nine women and 10 men - we had a female prime minister and president in 2010," she said, adding that Finland has the highest percentage of women on stockmarket-listed boards in the world.
Finland is usually ranked as one of the best in the world when it comes to education, and while New Zealand's GDP last year grew 1.8 per cent, Finland's rose 2.7 per cent.
"The whole of Europe is falling apart and here we have a growth rate of 3 per cent. I think Finland is doing brilliantly."
Finland does have a higher unemployment rate at 7.7 per cent, compared to 6.3 per cent in New Zealand, and also has a higher homicide rate.
Myllylahti said the Facebook group did not invite unsavoury comments about Brownlee's character and she hoped he would join the group.
