麻豆APP

Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters, By US Embassy –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Winston Peters

Winston Raymond Peters (born 11 April 1945) is a New Zealand politician who has led the New Zealand First party since its establishment in 1993. Peters was born in Whangarei and raised in rural Te Tai Tokerau in Whananki before attending Dargaville High School. His father is Mori and his mother is Scottish, thus he has a mixed origin. Winston is commonly referred to as “Winston.”

Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Winston Peters

1. He served as politician leader in New Zealand

Peters served as New Zealand’s 13th deputy prime minister from 1996 to 1998 and again from 2017 to 2020, as Foreign Minister from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2017 to 2020, and as Treasurer from 1996 to 1998. From 1979 to 1981, 1984 to 2008, and 2011 to 2020, he served as a Member of Parliament (MP).

2. He endorsed the Labour candidate Kelvin Davis in the Te Tai Tokerau M膩ori electorate

Winston Peters tactically sponsored Labour candidate Kelvin Davis in the Te Tai Tokerau Mori seat during the 2014 general election to oppose Mana Movement MP Hone Harawira. Harawira had formed an electoral alliance with the Internet Party, which was backed by tycoon Kim Dotcom. Dotcom was described by Peters as a “crooked German” who “had been here for five minutes.”  Prime Minister and National Leader John Key, as well as Mori Party candidate Te Hira Paenga, joined Peters.  As a result, during the 2014 election, Harawira was defeated.  During the election, New Zealand First boosted their parliamentary presence, even more, securing 11 members in the New Zealand Parliament with 8.6% of the party vote. 

3. The SuperGold Card has been one of Peters’s flagship initiatives

Peters talking to Bryce Edwards as a part of the Vote Chat forum at the University of Otago, 2011,

One of Peters’ most visible projects has been the SuperGold Card. Peters unveiled the SuperGold Card in August 2007 as part of the 2005 confidence-and-supply agreement between New Zealand First and the Labour Government. New Zealand first developed a study team to build the SuperGold Card, which offered government-funded public transportation perks such as free off-peak travel and discounts from businesses and companies across thousands of outlets. Despite strong resistance to the card due to its exorbitant cost, Peters negotiated with then-Prime Minister Helen Clark. 

4. He showed support for Taiwan rejoining the World Health Organization

During a press conference on May 5, 2020, Peters expressed support for Taiwan rejoining the World Health Organization.  The Taiwanese government welcomed Peter’s decision and reaffirmed its ties with New Zealand. Following that, the New Zealand Government announced its support for Taiwan’s application to join the WHO, joining Australia and the United States in taking similar positions. The Chinese Embassy responded by reminding Wellington to adhere to the One China Policy.  In response, Peters ordered the Chinese Ambassador to “listen to her master” and suggested that New Zealand follow Taiwan’s lead and make face masks mandatory.  Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, criticized Peter’s remarks, warning that they breached the One China Policy.

5. He attracted media attention over controversial payments for legal services and party donations

In 2008, Peters drew media attention for questionable payments for legal services and party donations. He earned $100,000 in 2006 to cover the legal costs of disputing Bob Clarkson’s election to the Tauranga seat. Owen Glenn, a wealthy New Zealand businessman and philanthropist located in Monaco provided the funding. Any gift to an MP worth more than $500 must be declared under parliamentary rules. Peters denied knowing where the money came from, however, this was not supported by his lawyer, Brian Henry, and Glenn refuted Peters’ denial. 

6. He served in the Cabinet

Peters became an outspoken critic of his party leader, Jim Bolger (pictured in 1992). By Archives New Zealand –

When Jim Bolger led the National Party to victory in 1990, Peters was appointed minister of Mori affairs. He was fired from this position in 1991 after publicly criticizing his own government’s economic, budgetary, and foreign ownership policies. In 1993, he left the National Party to found the populist party New Zealand First. After the 1996 election, as leader of New Zealand First, he held the balance of power and forged a coalition with the National Party, securing the seats of deputy prime minister and treasurer; the latter job was established for Peters. However, the coalition was dissolved in 1998 after Bolger was replaced as Prime Minister by Jenny Shipley. 

7. He  abandoned his party’s policy to hold a referendum on M膩ori seats

Peters abandoned his party’s promise of holding a referendum on Mori seats during negotiations with Ardern. He explained that the Mori Party’s defeat in the 2017 election removed the justification for his request to abolish Mori electorates.  Foreign ownership of homes, according to Peters, would be one among the items covered during negotiations with both National and Labour. He also demanded that Labour abandon its unpopular water charge program for farmers.  Peters also declined to talk directly with the Greens since they had campaigned on cooperation with Labour. He regarded the Greens as a minor party that would play only a minor role in any conceivable government. 

8. He served as interim Prime Minister

Winston Peters and his colleagues NZ First MPs lost their seats in the 2020 New Zealand general election on October 17 when the party’s percentage of the public vote fell to 2.6%, falling short of the five per cent threshold required to enter Parliament. Peters, however, served as interim Prime Minister until November 6, 2020 (the date the members of the next Parliament took their seats), when he was replaced by Grant Robertson as Deputy Prime Minister and Nanaia Mahuta as Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

9. He voted against the same-sex marriage Amendment Bill

In 2012, Peters voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill, which sought to legalize same-sex marriage in New Zealand, along with all of his colleagues as New Zealand First MPs. Peters had also advocated for a referendum on the subject. 

10. His honours and awards

Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters, By US Embassy –

Peters was appointed to the Privy Council on May 21, 1998, and was given the title “The Right Honorable.” In 2007, Peters was given the Samoan title Vaovasamanaia, which means “beautiful, handsome, awesome, happy, and cheerful.”