Connacht head coach Pat Lam has hit back after being called an "ex-New Zealander" by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Hansen was critical of Lam's role in Steven Luatua signing for Bristol from Auckland Blues.
Hansen told Fairfax: "If you're an ex-New Zealander, you should be a bit mindful about players' careers."
In a statement to Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch, Lam expressed his disappointment in Hansen's remarks and questioned why the All Blacks boss made a personal attack on him and his family.
He said: "I was born in New Zealand to hard-working Samoan parents. I was educated in New Zealand and worked as a schoolteacher and a professional rugby coach in New Zealand.
"I had the privilege and honour to represent both my country of birth and my country of heritage. I am a proud New Zealander and I'm also proud to be a Pacific Islander.
"The only reason we don't live in New Zealand at the moment is I had an opportunity to continue to coach rugby professionally in Ireland and support my family after being sacked by the NZRU and the Blues."
Lam played for Auckland, North Harbour and Crusaders in Super Rugby, and having played 34 times for Samoa, he was capped in a non-Test game for New Zealand in 1992. He then went on to coach Auckland and the Blues, among other teams.
Lam pointed out that over 50 All Blacks are playing for foreign teams, with Aaron Cruden becoming the latest high-profile player to leave New Zealand to take up a contract with Montpellier in the French Top 14 league.
He also questioned Hansen's own history, having coaches Wales before returning to New Zealand.
Lam added: "Did Steve Hansen consider himself an ex-New Zealander when he chose to leave New Zealand and coach the Wales national team against the All Blacks?
"Myself, and I'm sure many other New Zealanders who are living and working overseas, do not consider ourselves 'ex-New Zealanders' just because we are not living in New Zealand.
"When I have joined the thousands of other northern-based Kiwis who attended and cheered on the All Blacks in their test matches in the northern hemisphere we certainly didn't do so as 'ex-New Zealanders'.
"I believe many New Zealanders would also be offended to be labelled an 'ex-New Zealander' by the All Black coach... he has great influence because of his position of privilege and responsibility in representing New Zealand worldwide.
"Who determines and judges who is a New Zealander and who isn't? I don't believe that has ever been the role of the All Black head coach."
Hansen has since stated that his intention was to refer to Lam as an ex-New Zealand coach and not an ex-New Zealander.