Peters elusive on eve of return to NZ

Winston Peters

Foreign Minister Winston Peters remains as elusive as ever ahead of his return to New Zealand tomorrow amid questions over his health and political future.

Mr Peters has been on sick leave in Rarotonga for two weeks after contracting a viral infection from a suspected insect bite while in Malaysia.

A spokesman for Mr Peters said he was expected to fly back into the country tomorrow and return to work on Monday.

He had been due to return last Wednesday but extended his leave.

Calls to Mr Peters today did not succeed, with the intensely private leader of New Zealand First not willing to discuss his health, political events since his absence, or questions over his future in politics.

While Mr Peters was away NZ First Party president Dail Jones said he was 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.

There has been speculation that Mr Peters will not contest the 2008 election and will seek a diplomatic post, possibly with the South Pacific Forum, closer to election day.

Most of his party believes Mr Peters will still lead them at the next election, though some are questioning whether his recent illness might have given him a new perspective on life since then.

Mr Peters has always been proud of his stamina and robust good health despite his late-night lifestyle. His infamous forays into the Wellington social circuit have been reduced since he met partner Jan Trotman, who is the managing director of pharmaceuticals company Janssen-Cilag.

During Mr Peters' absence his party had continued to suffer in the polls and was recently overtaken by the Maori Party in the popularity stakes.

While Mr Peters' colleagues have in his absence managed to negotiate with Labour to gain an inquiry into rates, they have made little impact elsewhere. Most commentators believe NZ First would struggle to survive without their founding leader and some query that with him on anything less than dynamic the party will struggle.

A spokesman for Mr Peters said he had good days and bad days with his current illness, which seemed to flare up unpredictably with flu-like symptoms including joint pain and difficulty in breathing.

Mr Peters was briefly quarantined at Brisbane's Wesley Hospital while returning from Malaysia in July and spent some time convalescing there.

At a press conference after his return for the hospitalisation, Mr Peters said he was making "a very, very speedy recovery".

- NZPA