‘Why are you asking me?’ Winston Peters evasive on broadcaster’s potential return to NZ First

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters on speculation former MP turned broadcaster Michael Laws may stand for Waitaki electorate.

New Zealand First is holding a public meeting in Oamaru on Sunday hosted by minister Shane Jones.

Speculation is mounting that Michael Laws may be announced as the party’s candidate for the Waitaki electorate.

Laws was an MP from 1990 to 1996, and now serves as a regional councillor for the Dunstan constituency on Otago Regional Council.

Is a former MP, mayor and broadcaster set for a political comeback with New Zealand First?

Speculation is mounting that Michael Laws may be unveiled as the party’s candidate for the Waitaki electorate.

Michael Laws has worked as a broadcaster, local body politician and MP. Is he planning a return to Parliament?

The Platform, an independent online media site that features Laws as one of its main hosts, is currently featuring ads for upcoming NZ First meetings in Oamaru and Timaru, set to be hosted by Resources Minister Shane Jones.

“New Zealand First is on a mission to fight for the ordinary hard-working Kiwis who just want a country they are proud of, a country that provides opportunity for you and your families, a country that gives you hope for a better future,” the blurb for the meeting said.

While Jones - the party’s deputy leader - was unlikely to announce a new candidate at the public meeting, it doesn't rule out an announcement being made ahead of the event.

Earlier this week, Laws alluded to a pending announcement while hosting his show on The Platform, but gave no details.

Laws, who serves as a regional councillor for the Dunstan constituency on the Otago Regional Council (ORC), was tight-lipped when approached by Stuff on Tuesday morning.

Michael Laws is a councillor on the Otago Regional Council.

“I never comment on rumour or speculation,” he said.

A spokesperson for NZ First said the party did not comment on candidates, while the party’s previous Waitaki candidate confirmed he was no longer standing.

Leader Winston Peters was evasive when asked if Laws was standing.

“What are you talking about, why are you asking me?” Peters told Stuff.

“I’m the leader of New Zealand First, we don’t handle this kind of basic stuff that is handled by the party.”

Shane Jones at Macraes mine in Otago. The minister has been a frequent visitor to the Waitaki region.

When told that Stuff had put the question to Laws as well, Peters replied “well, you have your answer haven’t you”.

A former MP set for a return?

Laws is no stranger to Parliament, beginning as an MP with National in 1990 and resigning six years later after defecting to New Zealand First.

He later served as Whanganui mayor between 2004-2010.

The Waitaki electorate included Cromwell, where Laws is based.

The Waitaki electorate, under various name and boundary changes, has largely been a stronghold for National in recent decades, with the exception of 2005 when David Parker became the MP for the then-Otago electorate.

The seat was won by National’s Miles Anderson in the 2023 election, who succeeded long-serving MP Jacqui Dean. She had held the seat since 2008.

Anderson’s margin increased to 12,151 over Labour’s candidate.

Labour list MP, and former West Coast/Tasman MP Damien O’Connor is standing for Labour in the Waitaki seat.

On April 15, New Zealand First announced former All Black captain Taine Randell as the party’s candidate in the Hawke's Bay electorate of Tukituki.