Peters returns to campaign rhetoric as deputy PM
Glenn McConnell
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has lobbed insults and accusations at Labour, the Greens, Te Pāti Māori and the media industry, during a well attended ‘state of the nation’ speech reminiscent of NZ First’s election campaign events.
‘State of the nation’ speeches are opportunities for political leaders to lay out their perspective on a broad range of issues. In February, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon used his ‘state of the nation’ to foreshadow plans for welfare cuts, “tough love”, and fiscal restraint.
Peters, speaking in Palmerston North yesterday, continued to paint a picture of NZ First as a political underdog, governing against the odds. He arrived at the Palmerston North Conference Centre to see more than two dozen pro-Palestine protesters, and then walked onto the stage to a Chumbawamba favourite, Tubthumping. The lyrics “I get knocked down, but I get up again” blared across the venue.
His speech continued for over an hour, traversing familiar topics covered during NZ First’s election campaign. He criticised “bulldust” academia, promised to rid the public service of “co-governance”, and accused the previous Government – which he was part of from 2017 to 2020 – of holding “contempt for democracy”.
He compared “co-governance” to what was seen in “Nazi Germany”.
Following the speech, Peters doubled down on the comparison. “It’s what it’s based on, it’s based on racial preference,” he said.
Peters said New Zealand’s Jewish community would “understand” his comments.
While most of the state of the nation speech re-canvassed old campaign rhetoric, Peters highlighted a Sunday Star-Timescolumn warning that policies campaigned on last year would likely cost $5.6 billion more than forecast. The columnist, Dr Vernon Small, highlighted that new revenue ideas from National were not likely to gather the money they expected. While other policies, such as the landlords’ interest deductibility change, would cost hundreds of millions more per year.
“Mr Small is right, of course,” Peters told the crowd.
He told reporters there was “a huge gap” in funding. But he wouldn’t say if the Government
needed to backtrack on promised tax cuts, or needed new revenue, saying these were ongoing discussions with the coalition.
“I admit that there is a construction of the economic plan going forward where all these things can be done, but not the plan I've heard just yet. However, we’re in coalition talks,” Peters said.
He concluded the speech with a focus on respecting “Western values, democracy and the rule of law”. To significant cheers from the crowd, he recommitted to making English an “official language” – saying it would boost commercial connections.
Given English is the most common language, and the one used to write law, legal experts have questioned what - if anything – passing an English Language Bill would achieve. Peters said NZ First would work to restore the Marsden Point Refinery and coastal shipping.
He said the party also wanted to “upgrade” the Super Gold Card and would get Government funding for Gumboot Friday, a youth mental health initiative run by former comedian Mike King.
Other promises included:
■ More funding for Plunket.
■ Removing “Covid mandates” - although he did not say if he had found any ongoing pandemic mandates. The previous Government removed all Covid law and regulation last year.
■ Remove gender, sexuality, and relationship education in schools.
The speech started with a range of attacks on the Opposition parties.
“These three parties are arguing over ‘who can be most culturally woke,” he said.
He said Labo ur was “a hapless freight train” with an “unheralded level of contempt [for democracy]”.
His verbal attacks on reporters also continued. He riled up the crowd with false claims journalists took “bribes” from New Zealand On Air, leading some in the crowd to berate reporters.
Peters also returned to a familiar act, seen during many public meetings, where he berates a camera operator who comes near the stage. This time, however, the camera operator he targeted was actually hired by New Zealand First.
“I’m trying to give a speech here and you’re mucking around. This is not like the other parties. We are organised,” he told the NZ First photographer.