With just days to go before the election, Winston Peters has given RCR his final pre-election interview, telling Paul Brennan this is the most consequential election of his political career.
The NZ First leader also has a blunt message for National, accusing Christopher Luxon of mishandling the strategic voting debate and failing to understand the MMP mathematics behind the campaign.
Peters says National’s opposition to vote-splitting is misplaced, arguing that centre-right voters need to put their votes where they will have the greatest effect. He dismisses criticism of the strategy and says the priority should be securing a centre-right victory, then getting on with growing the economy.
The Foreign Minister also took aim at taxpayer-funded media, accusing RNZ and TVNZ of favouring the Opportunity Party while giving NZ First and ACT less favourable coverage. He points to David Farrar’s analysis of party coverage and claims NZ First’s large campaign meetings have been largely ignored.
Peters raises concerns about election integrity, questioning the lack of prosecutions over alleged electoral and charity-related wrongdoing. He also discusses gene technology, warning that mistakes could have serious consequences for New Zealand’s environment, exports and international reputation.
On healthcare, Peters argues more attention should be given to preventing chronic disease rather than simply responding to rising hospital costs. He questions the impact of lifestyle, diet and stress, and revisits the dismissal of nurses and doctors who refused Covid vaccination mandates.
“Well, they fired over a thousand nurses, mandated them out of a job. They fired scores of doctors who stopped them from doing their job, on the basis that if you don’t do what we say with respect to Covid, then you’re out. And then they talk about a nursing shortage”.
Asked whether this is the most consequential election of his career, Peters warns that getting the election wrong could see New Zealand’s standing decline further.
Watch or listen to RCR’s interview with Winston Peters.
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