NZ First leader Winston Peters is no newbie to politics - and it shows with the silver-tongued combative remarks he's become famous for.
After a combative press conference yesterday in which he spent most of his time attacking media for their reporting, a video has surfaced of some of Peters' finest media moments.
Watch the video below.
Winston Peters vs media - the greatest hits.
Posted by Chris Lynch on Wednesday, 27 September 2017
It includes him giving broadcaster Paul Henry a dressing down.
"If you want to know how to become a interviewer. Get the facts right first and not going on a fishing expedition," Peters said.
But Henry, who is rarely without a reply, retorted "Winston, let's focus more on you being a good interviewee".
Another video, shared by The Opportunities Party leader Gareth Morgan, showed Peters floundering as he was forced to answer hard questions about the cost of his election promises by Guyon Espiner on RNZ National.
Listen to how much of a fiscal flake Winston Peters is. If you don’t want to believe what I’m saying on how superficial and shallow Winston Peters, just listen to this interview this morning with Guyon Espiner.
I actually think that Peters is a cunning but stupid pretender. The question I have is how has the man lasted so long in New Zealand politics – is there a segment of voters that really is this gullible.
For goodness sake New Zealanders just get rid of this fiscal flake and the racist, xenophobic, and regressive party of New Zealand First that has been a wart on the social and economic progress of this country for 30 years too long.
Credit to Guyon Espiner and Morning Report (RNZ) for the excellent interview. You can watch the full un-edited version here video here - https://www.facebook.com/nzmorningreport/videos/vb.292164637831430/467159950331897/?type=2&theater
Posted by Gareth Morgan on Wednesday, 13 September 2017
The 72-year-old has been in the game longer than some of his colleagues have been alive after he first reached Parliament in 1978.
One exchange between Peters and a journalist at his press conference yesterday encapsulated the New Zealand First leader's approach to fielding questions.
Asked what his policy priorities would be, Peters picked up on an accent and asked the journalist where he was from.
"Australia," was the reply.
"It shows. Next question please. Don't come and ask a silly question like that." Peters said.
On whether he would hold separate talks with the Greens, Peters said the signal from Labour was they wanted to talk to New Zealand First.
"The team that they sided up with has signalled that they want to talk to us alone...it is the outcome that would matter."
Peters dismissed any prospect of a coalition that would include the Act Party, labelling David Seymour "the most expensive beneficiary in the country".
He wasn't keen to talk about whether he knew who leaked his NZ Super information to the media during the election campaign. Peters has previously pointed the finger at National and there has been speculation that could make a deal harder to strike.
"I'm here to talk about...things to do with coalition formation going on. That's what we had a discussion about in caucus today, and that discussion didn't arise."