Winston Peters affirms New Zealand First’s independence and support for Te Tiriti in Radio Waatea interview

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has clarified his party’s position on constitutional and Māori policy, stating that the organization charts its own course independently of the political networks recently scrutinized in investigative literature. Speaking with Dale Husband on Radio Waatea on Thursday, 24 September 2026, Peters addressed his party's absence from Nicky Hager’s new book, Dirty Work, which examines the campaigning tactics of the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union regarding co-governance and Three Waters. Peters told Radio Waatea he has no concerns about the investigation because his party is not part of the networks Hager explored. While he reiterated his opposition to the former Labour Government’s Three Waters programme, he sought to distinguish New Zealand First’s policy platform from the tactics used by other groups. During the interview, Peters also addressed the broader debate surrounding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, critiquing the perspectives of former National Party leader Don Brash and ACT leader David Seymour, suggesting they lacked a proper understanding of the Treaty. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that while New Zealand First stands behind the Treaty of Waitangi, it rejects certain modern interpretations of Treaty principles. When questioned by Husband on how the party functions within a coalition alongside parties with differing Treaty views, Peters pointed to the pragmatic realities of the MMP system. He argued that stable governance requires parties with distinct philosophies to negotiate and establish common ground for the benefit of the country. The discussion underscores a clear distinction in the current political landscape: that opposition to specific water reforms does not equate to a unified stance on Māori policy or political strategy.