Winston Peters took to the stage at Christchurch’s James Hay Theatre on Sunday with a defiant and theatrical State of the Nation address. The NZ First leader’s speech was part cultural broadside, part economic pitch, and fully in line with his long-standing brand: blunt, combative, and unapologetic.
Framed as a rallying cry to “Make New Zealand First Again,” the address marked Peters’ latest attempt to reposition NZ First as the voice of what he called “ordinary New Zealanders”—a group he argued has been alienated by political elites, woke ideology, and globalist economics.
The “War on Woke” and the Politics of Backlash
The core theme of Peters’ address was a full-throated attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Describing such initiatives as an “insidious cancer,” he warned of “leftist group-think” infiltrating public institutions and condemned what he saw as a “seeping” of social engineering into New Zealand society.
Among the most provocative moments was his claim that the government is winning battles against the woke agenda—citing bans on puberty blockers for children, opposition to DEI hiring practices in the public sector, and the rollback of co-governance frameworks. But Peters warned, “the war is yet to be won,” promising more Members Bills targeting what he called “woke banks” and trans access to women’s spaces.
The rhetoric placed Peters squarely within a global trend of conservative leaders capitalising on cultural grievance. Yet unlike newer entrants into populist politics, Peters has spent decades articulating these positions. As commentator Tim Murphy noted, Peters was railing against “Chardonnay socialists” and globalists long before Donald Trump made such tactics mainstream.
Peters vs. Protesters
The setting itself—the James Hay Theatre—seemed to underscore the theatrical nature of the event. Inside, hundreds packed the hall; outside, a constellation of protesters had already gathered. Demonstrators represented diverse causes, from greyhound racing to the Gaza conflict. Disruptions came quickly, with a protestor yelling, “stop funding UNRWA” just minutes into Peters’ speech. Around 10 people were ejected over the course of the hour-long event.
Peters met the interruptions with characteristic force, labelling protesters as “left-wing fascists,” “communist, fascist, and anti-democratic losers,” and “Marxist whingers.” At one point, he referenced Elvis Presley: “Looking for trouble? You’ve come to the right place.” He insisted that the protestors were not just targeting him but “attacking you”—the audience—as part of what he framed as an assault on democracy itself.
Climate Commitments Under Fire
Turning to climate policy, Peters reiterated NZ First’s call to “re-evaluate” New Zealand’s commitments under the Paris Accord. While he stopped short of outright withdrawal, he argued the agreement is an “idealistic flight of futility” that punishes Kiwi farmers while major emitters like China and the U.S. escape scrutiny.
“Why are we making a rod for our own backs… when China or the US could sneeze and produce more CO2 overnight than we do in a year?” he asked. Peters claimed $22 billion in taxpayer money would be “siphoned offshore” under the current climate obligations—funds he argued would be better spent domestically.
The Economy
The economic dimension of Peters’ speech was framed as a rebuke to Labour’s legacy and veneration of the current innovation-focused approach of the coalition government that is “taking our country out of recession.” He lambasted the former Labour leadership for what he called a “litany of lies” about the economy in 2023, blaming them for the current downturn.
Touting a return to “sound economic and social policies,” Peters called for aggressive development of New Zealand’s natural resources, positioning resource extraction as the engine of job creation and export growth. “Ninety-six percent of the building [the James Hay Theatre] you will see comes from a process of “extraction”,” he declared. “[We must develop the same] and ensure Team New Zealand is the first beneficiary.”
Reinforcing the Message
Peters reinforced these themes during a follow-up interview on The Mike Hosking Breakfast yesterday morning. He accused the media of failing to scrutinise the Labour government’s economic claims and said the State of the Nation speech was timed to coincide with recent data showing signs of economic recovery.
Asked whether New Zealand should pull out of the Paris Accord, Peters called instead for “serious reconsideration,” highlighting the disparity between New Zealand’s tiny emissions footprint and the outsized contributions of the world’s top polluters. “What difference can we possibly make?” he asked, challenging the economic rationale for continuing with current commitments.
A Calculated Risk or Strategic Play?
While Peters remains polarising, the speech may succeed in energising NZ First’s base. Recent polls show the party hovering near the 5% MMP threshold, and Peters’ aggressive positioning could help reclaim disaffected voters feeling unrepresented by mainstream parties.
Still, whether this brand of economic nationalism and anti-woke rhetoric will translate into broader electoral gains remains to be seen. With Peters set to step down from the Deputy Prime Minister role in May and turning 80 next month, this may be one of his final national platforms.
But if Saturday’s address proved anything, it’s that Winston Peters has no intention of fading quietly. His message was clear: this is not just political theatre—it’s a battle for the soul of the nation.