Winston Peters proclaims ‘war on woke’ as he looks to 2026 election

Sunday, 23 March 2025

Winston Peters was repeatedly heckled by pro-Palestine protesters as he made a fiery state of the nation address where he declared a “war on woke” in Christchurch.

About ten protesters over seven different incidents stood up and interrupted the New Zealand First leader, who turns 80 next month, as he made a state of the nation address. About 20 of the 50-minute speech focussed on Labour and his view that it no longer represents workers, is “woke”, “shallow”, “impotent” and to blame for the economic slump.

Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins, accused Peters of “channelling Donald Trump” and said he was trying to distract people. “This coalition drove the economy into a recession, and now they’re trying to distract from the damage they’ve done with even more division,' he said in a statement.

Why it matters

Peters’ state of the nation speech made clear his intention to continue a culture-wars crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as he begins campaigning for the 2026 general election. He did not announce any new policies, but highlighted his party’s commitment to being anti-woke and promised to “continue to fight … against the use of puberty blockers for children”.

The breakdown

Peters was aware there would be a strong protester presence at his speech in the James Hay Threatre in the Christchurch town hall and had written his speech accordingly - apologising to the crowd for the interruption.

After his speech, he was asked why NZ First’s focus was on removing DEI reguations from legislation given the party voted in favour of the 2020 legislation which brought them in (the Public Service Act). He said “You know full well that it was during the full time of Covid lockdown. We didn't have our chance to … some of us to get our head around it. And the moment we discovered what it was about, we went for it.”

He was also asked about relationship and sexuality guidelines who were removed under the NZ First-National coalition, despite being introduced by former NZ First Minister, Tracey Martin. Peters said “we all make mistakes” and invoked a quote he said same from Winston Churchill. “The trouble with being on this side of right is that you keep so much dubious company”.

When pressed as to whether was suggested Martin was “dubious company” he said he wasn’t and added: “That is not what the party at the time knew to be the case. My colleagues behind me will endorse that, and that's my position.”

Peters was also listed in the minutes of a Cabinet subcommittee paper where it was agreed to “develop a national plan of action” to response to the United National Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which became the contentious He Puapua document. Peters at the time said the subcommittee did not consult with him and that he never saw the report, and doubled-down when asked on Sunday.

“We had to respond to what John Key signed up to,” he said. “I cannot believe you asked me this in March of 2025, merely reporting to the United Nations was what was required, and the person doing the report was meant to be Winston Peters. It was hidden from me. That's how devious and duplicitous Labor was.”