Democracy ‘hanging by a thread’, Peters tells crowd

Winston Peters makes a point at a public meeting in Gisborne yesterday. A woman was escorted from the room after she argued with the NZ First leader about the meaning of indigenous people. Picture by Paul Rickard

A finger-pointing woman who approached Winston Peters at his Emerald Hotel speaking podium was described by the New Zealand First leader as a “plant”.

Mr Peters was speaking at a public election campaign meeting yesterday before about 130 people, most of whom seemed supportive of the veteran politician.

The woman was originally standing at the back of the hall when she told Mr Peters she was generally supportive, but asked who told him that Māori were not indigenous.

She argued back after his answer (my Cook Island ancestors) and approached Mr Peters making other comments which could not be heard above a booing crowd, before she was escorted out of the hall to applause.

“You came along for a photo op, didn’t you,” said Mr Peters.

“Go and see those guys,” he said, referring to a Gisborne man operating a camera for Newshub.

There were no national media at the meeting.

He told the departing woman that her behaviour was not acceptable on a marae or in any part of the country.

“I guarantee it will be all over TV tonight, because that’s what they came for.

“I know that she’s a plant.

“They can’t win this campaign without throwing dirt.”

Mr Peters was not concerned about his safety.

He told the laughing audience, “If you’re looking for trouble, you came to the right place.”

Mr Peters was in typical campaign mode with some snappy, funny lines, while other comments were more combative and directed against other political parties, the media and “woke projects”.

Asked about National Party leader Christopher Luxon now being open to a coalition featuring New Zealand First “if needed’”, Mr Peters gave a frosty and unwelcoming response.

“In the good book, someone says, ’turn the other cheek’.

“Mr Luxon, that does not mean what you think it means — that you just turn the other cheek so you get another slap on the other side.

“You turn the other cheek, sir, so the next time an insult happens, it has no effect at all.”

A coalition with Labour was not possible because the party had lied to him.

Mr Peters said the media was not reporting his speeches being delivered before packed halls.

The country needed an independent and honest fourth estate which would report on a critical party  — New Zealand First.

The lack of such a media, and co-governance, is “why your democracy is hanging by a thread”.

It was a malignant development.

“You’re the master here.

“You’re in control of democracy here.”

Mr Peters lambasted Wednesday night’s televised leaders debate.

Prime Minster Chris Hipkins had been childish and petulant and would drive more voters to New Zealand First.

New Zealand First was often discussed, but had not been invited to participate.

It was another example of an unfair media.

Mr Peters defended NZ First candidate Rob Ballantyne who was accused on the debate of making racist comments.

Mr Peters said Mr Ballantyne had been speaking of the “Māori elite” rather than all Māori.

The New Zealand First leader continued his criticism of the growing use of Māori names with one example being Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency).

“What on earth is Waka Kotahi?

“Every Māori down here knows you can’t have a waka on the road.”

He further criticised Waka Kotahi by saying he had never seen so many dangerous potholes while driving from Rotorua to Gisborne.

The name Aotearoa was also criticised.

Mr Peters said it was promoted by “radical Māori” yet had came from a colonial named William Pember Reeves (a former Liberal Party cabinet minister, diplomat and author).

A member of the audience expressed concern about Tairāwhiti being in the name of Gisborne‘s hospital.

Mr Peters said the names of some hospitals could be confusing but he was more concerned about healthcare being given on the basis of need rather than race.

Mr Peters was critical of the World Health Organisation, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

He called for an independent inquiry into the Covid-19 response.

“All I want is for New Zealanders to know the darn truth so the next time we handle it better.”

Mr Peters said Māori did cede sovereignty to the Crown in 1840.

No country or territory was “in partnership” with the British Empire.

Immigration, Pharmac and independent inquiries into banks and supermarkets were among other topics covered.

Mr Peters said New Zealand First was attracting thousands of people to meetings — which went unreported in the media — and was going up in the polls.