Winston: ‘Not my first legal rodeo’
Winston Peters has spoken to some of the country’s most powerful business leaders about relations with China a day after making controversial comments about a former Australian foreign minister.
Peters yesterday said he was standing up for a free society and it was “laughable” to suggest his comments about Bob Carr had damaged bilateral relations.
He said it was too soon to say what would happen with Carr’s possible defamation action.
Peters, deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, gave a speech to the New Zealand China Council in Auckland yesterday.
Business leaders present included Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran and ANZ New Zealand chief executive Antonia Watson.
Asked afterwards about Carr’s legal action, Peters told media: “I’m not going to get deviated on this matter. This is not my first legal rodeo, either.”
The issue related to an interview on RNZ on Thursday in which Peters criticised Carr’s views on the Aukus security partnership involving Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Carr’s lawyers have claimed some comments about Carr’s attitude to China were defamatory. The remarks in question have been removed from the radio station’s website.
“I’m not a coward. I’m standing up for the rights and principles of a free society,” Peters said yesterday.
He said senior Government leaders had some inkling of Aukus back in September 2021 and business leaders and media should be better informed about the security pact. New Zealand had not been invited to join Aukus, and had given no indication it would join, he said.
Peters’ office has confirmed the Deputy PM received a letter from Carr’s lawyers.