Peters’ warning for doubters after NZ First’s low polling

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has a warning for anyone writing his party off because of low polling just weeks out from an election — “stand back and watch”.

Peters has been a long time sceptic of public polls, calling them “rubbish” and “crap,” often advising his supporters to not take them seriously.

His reaction was no different this week when two mainstream political polls — Reid Research and Colmar Brunton — both had NZ First at 2 per cent.

If that result was achieved on election day, the party would be out of Parliament.

But, speaking to the Nation yesterday, Peters was adamant that would not happen.

He pointed out that when then Prime Minister Helen Clark called a snap election in 2002, his party was also polling at 2 or 3 per cent. But on election day, NZ First won just shy of 11 per cent of the total vote. Asked if that would happen again this election, Peters said: “Well you stand back and watch”.

“I love you guys, the way you try and write me off,” he said, of the media. But, in 2008 when there was not a snap election, NZ First was consistently polling below 5 per cent and it won just 4 per cent of the total vote, meaning Peters was out of Parliament. Asked yesterday if this was the end of the road, he said: “Most definitely not”.

“Why do you think I’m here after 27 years of being put down by you people time after time after time and we’re still sitting here.”

Peters remained tight-lipped about additional policies. The party has announced it would demand the immigration portfolio if it is in Government, as well as limiting immigration.