Winston Peters interview with Family First
In this episode of "StraightTalk," Winston Peters, the former foreign minister of New Zealand, delves into several pressing issues facing the country ahead of the election in a few weeks time. Peters discusses the cost of living crisis, crime, drugs, and the erosion of democracy, citing examples like the UN Declaration on indigenous people's rights and the establishment of unelected Maori boards. He defends his party's stance on abortion and referendums, clarifies his decision to not align with the Labour Party, opposes forgiveness for past National Party actions, and expresses concerns about separatism. Peters also addresses education standards, New Zealand's global affiliations, his stance on Israel, and calls for a full-scale inquiry into COVID-19 handling. He discusses surveillance, work sanctions for beneficiaries, and advocates for the separation of church and state, all while emphasizing the need to protect and understand the value of democracy.
Summary of StraightTalk with Winston Peters - 2nd Oct 2023
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00:00:00 - 00:55:00
In this episode of "StraightTalk with Winston Peters," the former foreign minister of New Zealand discusses a range of topics, including the cost of living crisis, crime, and drugs. Peters also emphasizes the erosion of democracy in the country, citing examples such as the UN Declaration on indigenous people's rights and the establishment of an unelected Maori board. He defends his party's stance on abortion and the need for referendums, while also discussing his decision to not align with the Labour Party in the upcoming election. Peters opposes forgiveness for past actions of the National Party and expresses concerns about separatism. He highlights the decline in education standards and criticizes the focus on non-essential subjects. Peters also clarifies his stance on Israel and calls for a full-scale inquiry into the handling of COVID-19. He discusses his views on surveillance, work sanctions for beneficiaries, and the importance of separating church and state. Peters concludes by emphasizing the need to protect and understand the value of democracy.
00:00:00 In this section, Winston Peters highlights the most important issues facing New Zealand, starting with the cost of living crisis that has impacted a significant portion of the population. He also emphasizes the problems related to crime, gang behavior, and illegal drugs. However, Peters believes that these issues cannot be effectively addressed without first acknowledging and rectifying the erosion of democracy in the country. He points out that separatism and a clear divide have been introduced into New Zealand's democracy, leading to the compromise of equal representation and undermining the principles of one person, one vote. Peters cites examples such as the UN Declaration on indigenous people's rights, the establishment of the Oran Super City with an unelected Maori board, and the repeal of legislations related to foreshore and seabed rights as evidence of this problematic trend. Overall, Peters argues that restoring and preserving democracy should be the top priority moving forward.
00:05:00 In this section, Winston Peters responds to a question about the extent to which New Zealand First is a conservative party. He highlights the importance of responsible conservatism that includes social legislation and a sense of humanity and concern for all members of society. Peters discusses the need for a conservative party that preserves the good while adapting to modernization and emphasizes that fundamental principles remain unchanged throughout history. He also touches on the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi and defends his party's vote on removing certain references to the treaty, stating that it was about specific facts rather than undermining the basis of the government. Peters acknowledges the importance of fairness and argues that their proposal would not cause further injustice.
00:10:00 In this section, Winston Peters challenges the narrative surrounding the Treaty of Waitangi and criticizes the idea that it represents a partnership between Maori and the British Crown. He argues that the Treaty is a three-article treaty that initially ceded Maori sovereignty and guaranteed rights under British rule. Peters also points out the inconsistencies and falsehoods in the interpretation of the Treaty, emphasizing that the principles outlined in 1989 are no more sound than tomorrow's schools, which he believes led to the collapse of the country's educational standards. He questions the fairness and justice of current proposals, asserting that the leaders at the time of the signing of the Treaty knew exactly what they were doing and that their intentions should be respected.
00:15:00 In this section, Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, discusses his party's stance on the abortion bill and the need for referendums. He explains that New Zealand First believes referendums should be used more widely to let the people decide on matters of conscience. Peters also defends his party's voting against certain provisions of the abortion bill, stating that they do not trust politicians to make decisions on behalf of the people. When questioned about his party's vote against decriminalizing abortion, Peters clarifies that the party opposed the bill due to concerns over late-term abortions. He acknowledges that there may be exceptions, such as cases of rape, but emphasizes the need for a society where abortions are safe, legal, and rare. He also mentions that certain voting decisions made by individual party members are not reflective of the party as a whole. Finally, Peters mentions that any amendments to the abortion laws would require the support of a majority in parliament to have a chance at success.
00:20:00 In this section of the video, Winston Peters is asked about social conservatives who are hesitant to vote for New Zealand First due to his decision to align with the Labour Party in the previous election. Peters clarifies that he has ruled out partnering with the Labour Party in 2023 and cites the mishandling of a critical report during his time as the foreign minister as one of the reasons for his decision. He emphasizes that his responsibilities are to the people who voted for him, regardless of whether they supported him financially or in previous elections. Peters also mentions a conversation with Bill English, where English hinted at Judith Collins' intention to take over the leadership but not having the necessary numbers. Peters acknowledges the concerns of social conservatives and defends his party's desire for policy change, pointing out that many National Party voters also voted for New Zealand First in 2020.
00:25:00 In this section, Winston Peters discusses his opposition to forgiveness for past actions of the National Party and emphasizes his commitment to a united country without compromise on issues of separatism or paride. He mentions his concerns about the destructive potential of separatism and cites examples from Burma, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela to support his argument. When asked about co-governance and the possibility of a binding referendum, Peters dismisses the idea of a 2026 referendum and instead considers the 2023 election as the people's referendum. He expresses his determination to address the needs of ordinary people, including affordable housing, healthcare, and education, and affirms his willingness to take a stand against anyone or anything that goes against what is right.
00:30:00 In this section of the video, Winston Peters discusses the decline in education standards in New Zealand, particularly in reading and literature, and attributes it to the focus on non-essential subjects such as sexuality and gender diversity. He calls for a return to the basics of education and criticizes the indoctrination of students instead of providing them with a solid education. Peters also expresses concerns about New Zealand's membership in global organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization, suggesting that these organizations interfere with the sovereignty and decision-making of individual nations. He warns against the potential contamination of these organizations and advocates for protecting the democracy and sovereignty of New Zealand.
00:35:00 In this section, Winston Peters, the former foreign minister of New Zealand, clarifies that he was not responsible for the US resolution recognizing West Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017, as he took office after that period. He also states that the current government intends to abandon the commitments made by the previous government in regards to that resolution. When asked about establishing an embassy in Israel, Peters mentions that New Zealand currently has embassies in Ankara, Turkey, and suggests that the cost structure and other factors need to be considered before making a decision. He emphasizes that he is not against the Jewish people or Israel and mentions a tree planted in his honor for his defense of the country. However, he does not commit to establishing an embassy in Israel at this time.
00:40:00 In this section, the interviewer brings up a previous meeting in 2017 where they discussed Winston Peters' statements about Israel. The interviewer accuses Peters of not calling out terrorism against Israel, while Peters insists that he has always condemned terrorism in his career. They then discuss the possibility of having an embassy in Israel and the actions being taken by the Jewish community in New Zealand. Peters suggests that more work needs to be done to justify such an outcome. The conversation then shifts to the topic of COVID-19 and vaccine mandates. Peters acknowledges that there were posts made in his name that he was not responsible for and expresses regret for any misinformation. He also mentions his concerns about statements made within the cabinet that couldn't be verified scientifically. Peters calls for continuous improvement and a review of how COVID-19 and the mandates were handled by the government.
00:45:00 In this section, Winston Peters discusses his frustration with the media's misinterpretation of COVID-19 statistics and the lack of accountability in the government's handling of the pandemic. He calls for a full-scale inquiry with trustworthy terms of reference and international experts to ensure transparency and provide recommendations for future crises. He also explains his decision to join the protests against the government's restrictions, expressing disappointment in his fellow MPs for not standing with the people sooner. Peters then addresses the topic of euthanasia laws and opposes any further liberalization, emphasizing the importance of public referendums in shaping legislation.
00:50:00 In this section, Winston Peters discusses his views on surveillance and the need for tighter administration to prevent asset manipulation. He also expresses his belief that beneficiaries who are able to work should be sanctioned if they don't make a real effort, emphasizing the importance of work as part of being a citizen. Peters further states that churches engaged in genuine service and charities should not be taxed, as there should be a separation between the church and the state. Overall, he highlights the critical nature of these issues in the present political environment and the preservation of the judeo-christian heritage.
00:55:00 In this section, Winston Peters emphasizes the importance of democracy and urges people to fully understand what they may lose or compromise if they don't stand up for it. He highlights the sacrifices made by 28,000 men in two wars and expresses his concern that simply hoping for a favorable outcome is not enough. He concludes by thanking the interviewer and wishing them luck for their organization's campaign.