Would NZ First form a government with Labour? Winston Peters calls that a ‘w….r question’

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

NZ First leader Winston Peters refused to answer what he described as a “w...er question” during an interview with NZME on Tuesday.

NZ First leader has taken issue with a line of questioning during a live interview, calling out what he described as a “w…er question”.

On Tuesday, Peters appeared on NZME’s Ryan Bridge Today, where he was asked about the possibility of NZ First forming a coalition with the Labour Party after the election in November, following recent ructions between NZ First and National.

“What’s wrong with you people? Do we need to come and put a brand on your head: ‘We’re not going with Labour’,” he responded.

“I haven’t been around this long to come on this programme to come on to talk about that sort of w…er question.”

Within the walls of Parliament’s debating chambers, politicians are not allowed to use “unbecoming” or “insulting language”.

NZ First leader Winston Peters took issue with what he described as a “w...er question” during an interview with NZME on Tuesday.

Between 1933 and 1980, Parliament actually maintained a list of unparliamentary words or phrases uttered during debates. Some honourable mentions included:

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1933: “Blow-fly minded”
1933: “Shrewd old bird”
1943: “Retardate worm”
1946: “Clown of the house”
1946: “I would cut the Honourable gentleman's throat if I had the chance”
1959: “Member not fit to lick the shoes of the prime minister”
1966: “Shut up yourself, you great ape”
1974: “Could go down the Mount Eden sewer and come up cleaner than he went in”
1977: “Silly old moo”
1980: “Fascist dictator”.

A few recent examples of politicians causing a stir for their language in the house include David Seymour calling Winston Peters “grandpa” in 2020, Brooke van Velden defending herself against a column which labelled her a “c…” and in 2021 when Simon Bridges called then-speaker Trevor Mallard a “twat”.

Earlier in 2026, Labour’s Kieran McAnulty was ejected from the house after claiming Peters had made “racist” comments and in 2025, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was booted for suggesting opposition MPs were spineless.

In Parliament, it’s up to the speaker to determine what makes or breaks the rules.

But outside of the house, politicians generally can say what they want. But, does that mean they should?

Have your say

What do you think of Peters using the W-word during a live broadcast? Should Parliament’s rules on insulting language apply to MPs when they’re not in the debating chamber?

Do you expect MPs to hold themselves to the same standards during live interviews?

Tell us what you think about Peters’ comment in the poll below.