New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was unable to state how much two of the party’s flagship policies would cost during a tense interview with Jack Tame on TVNZ’s Q&A.
During this morning’s interview, Tame asked how many prisoners Peters’ new proposed prison for gang members would hold.
But the former Deputy Prime Minister seemed unable to give an answer.
Tame pointed out that a prison built to hold 3000 would be the equivalent of three Mount Eden prisons.
“How much would that cost?” asked Tame.
The NZ First leader said, “I’m not going to have a fiscal argument when you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Tame pushed further for more details, saying, “This is your policy, you have complained in this campaign that people haven’t asked you about policy details.”
Peters then snapped back with, “We won’t have amateur hour based on what you don’t know, and if you’ll just keep quiet, take a valium, and realise that if corrections officers don’t know, the Minister of Corrections doesn’t know, how can you know for certain.”
When asked about the cost of the party’s aged care plan, Peters said “If you had any understanding of the situation, it’s the people that care for them that will be the cost.”
Tame replied, “The cost is dependent on how many people they are caring for, so how many people do you anticipate caring for under your policy?”
When pushed even further for details, Peters snapped back, criticising Tame, with “TV One is a taxpayer owned operation and the taxpayer is entitled to have a proper interview, so I’ll answer your question if you shut up for five seconds.”
Peters later told Tame that he was now interested in getting the broadcasting portfolio in order to improve Q+A after a combative interview between the pair.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon was asked during a standup if he would give NZ First the broadcasting portfolio if in government.
Luxon restated his preference for not working with NZ First.
Peters made a reference to his desire to hold the broadcasting portfolio in the next government while at a public meeting in Auckland yesterday.
Speaking from Papakura High School, Peters rejoiced the fact that journalists were regularly turning up to his party’s events.
He then called on a camera operator to focus on him while also sending a message to media organisations.
“I’ve got news for them and it’s all bad, I might be the Minister of Broadcasting.”
Peters also used the meeting to announce his party’s support for Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s manifesto for Auckland, which advocated for the city’s council to lead its development with less involvement from central government.
In a press release, Peters said supporting the manifesto should be an “immediate priority” for the next government.
Current polling suggested National and Act could need New Zealand First to form a government after October 14.
Within the manifesto, Brown requested that political parties agree to an Auckland Deal for the long term, which would enable Auckland to address its regionally critical problems and carry out the mayor and council’s plan to fix Auckland.
Brown argued for a fundamentally changed relationship between central government and the Auckland Council, based on respect and shared objectives.
The manifesto also contained an integrated transportation plan to make moving about the city easier, less expensive, and with fewer emissions, as well as resources and funding to help Auckland plan and build infrastructure, encourage the construction of “decent homes”, and revitalise blighted regions.
In the latest Herald Poll of Polls, the chance of National and Act being able to govern without NZ First rises to 44.8 per cent. The odds improve significantly if you add Peters to the mix, rising to 99.3 per cent.
As the year draws to a close, Waikato Herald is taking stock of 2024.