In a speech that channelled Trump-style rhetoric but stuck to old Peters themes, the NZ First leader mixed nationalism, culture war grievances and economic blame, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin.
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An ‘outright litany’ of grievances
Winston Peters gave his state of the nation speech on Sunday, though at times it resembled a live-action Facebook comments section. The packed 750-seat James Hay Theatre in Christchurch was treated to a speech full of colourful political attacks and culture war invective – as well as multiple interruptions from protestors on both sides of the war in Gaza. Later Peters told media that the protestors “just wanted to waste people’s time,” adding cryptically, “That is fascism.”
The speech was largely focused on the economy, which Peters blamed Labour for mismanaging. He highlighted the September 2023 Prefu, in which the then Labour government said the economy was turning a corner. “That claim from Hipkins and Robertson made about the economy back then was an outright litany of lies.” In contrast, this government had proven its economic bonafides, he said. “Running an economy is like running a big ocean liner. Turning it around to a safer course takes time. But turn it around we have, and the last fiscal update out this week proves it.”
Two sides of the puberty blockers issue
While economic matters formed the spine of the speech, Peters also returned to a favoured topic: his self-styled “war on woke.” He reiterated NZ First’s commitment to scrapping diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) targets in the public service and condemned the use of puberty blockers for children, calling it “a battle” still to be won.
His comments came the same day hundreds of protesters marched on parliament, concerned that proposed regulatory changes could restrict access to the medication, RNZ reports. The Ministry of Health has completed a consultation on whether new safeguards are needed, but no outcome has yet been released. Speaking at the protest, Green MP Benjamin Doyle said the process itself was harmful: “How dare they call for public consultation on whether we deserve to have life-saving treatment.”
The original culture warrior
Almost 80 and still commanding a room like it’s 1996, Winston Peters delivered his Christchurch speech with the theatrical flair of a man who, as Newsroom’s Tim Murphy puts it, “wears his 30 years of preaching the same message like a mayoral chain”. But while the arguments are familiar, there’s now a MAGA-adjacent sheen to his rhetoric, including anti-globalist sentiment and culture wars that feel imported, if not entirely new. Murphy writes that Peters was warning of Chardonnay socialists and “sickly white liberalism” long before Trump’s rise – but these days, he’s also promising to “make New Zealand First again”.
The staying power is remarkable. Later this week, Peters will overtake his idol Sir Āpirana Ngata to become New Zealand’s sixth-longest serving MP. His party may hover just above the MMP threshold, but Peters remains one of the country’s most enduring political performers, writes Murphy.
A surprising rise in support
Despite Peters’ Trump-like rhetoric raising the hackles of many voters, his positioning – especially on cultural issues – appears to be paying off, writes Thomas Manch in the Sunday Star-Times. Nearly 18 months into the coalition government’s term, commentators say NZ First is performing more strongly than in previous cycles. “Winston’s favourability has been increasing very steadily for the last 18 months,” says Curia Research pollster David Farrar, who notes that National voters have “warmed quite considerably” to the veteran politician.
Peters will relinquish the deputy prime ministership to Act leader David Seymour in May and has said he will begin campaigning again soon. Already, he’s proposed a $100 billion “Future Fund” for infrastructure and continues to stake out ground on contentious issues like gene technology reform and the aforementioned “woke agenda”. Peters has the edge over Seymour on capitalising on culture war issues, Farrar says. “Winston probably has greater ability to push on those. He’s very good on social media with picking fights with people.”
