NZ First faces life without Winston

Winston Peters

New Zealand First senior figures are contemplating a future without Winston Peters' leadership - but because of his age, rather than the mystery illness that has seen him off work this week.

Party president Dail Jones says he is looking around for fresh blood and someone who could lead the party into the election after the next one, in 2011, when Mr Peters will be 66.

"What I have been saying at meetings is that we must have leadership ready for 2011 and it is important for the election in 2008 that New Zealand First has people high up on the list, possibly new blood, who could lead us into a 2011 election."

"What [Mr Peters] needs is someone capable of supporting him and being trained to do the job with Winston staying on."

Mr Jones is confident Mr Peters will lead New Zealand First into the next election in 2008, a view firmly shared in the party despite speculation that he might take a diplomatic post.

Mr Peters, who is also Foreign Minister, is in the Cook Islands recovering from an illness contracted four weeks ago after a bite in Malaysia above the back of his knee - possibly from a spider. He has cancelled a party function and a trip to Indonesia because of the ailment, said to be a piercing pain in his knee caused by the venom and which has caused him to limp.

Mr Peters was due to be back at work next week but last night his office suggested his return on Monday was not now certain. His next big trip is to the United Nations and Europe in the second half of next month.

Mr Jones said that after settling into the Foreign Affairs job, Mr Peters had been spending more time on party matters - until the recent illness.

Mr Jones was confident Mr Peters would lead New Zealand First into the next election. At midyear he had met the Tauranga electorate, the seat Mr Peters lost last election. The decision of who would stand there was a matter between Tauranga and Mr Peters, but the party was happy to hear from anyone with an interest in the seat.

Mr Jones said he could not see anyone who had made any impact on the opinion polls other than Winston Peters "and it's quite possible that the next leader of New Zealand First in Parliament is not in Parliament at the present time". Brian Donnelly and Ron Mark are considered the most likely leadership contenders within the parliamentary party of seven.

Events of the past week - when the party negotiated from Labour an independent inquiry into local government rates - had proved the caucus could handle some things without him.

"So I'm personally telling him not to rush back." He should take the time he needed to get well.