Labour leader Chris Hipkins rules out working with Winston Peters as foreign affairs minister
New Zealand Labour leader Chris Hipkins has ruled out any future coalition or working relationship with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Hipkins cited Peters' recent controversial comments regarding race as the primary reason for his decision.
Why it matters
This stance clarifies the political landscape for the next New Zealand election and highlights tensions over political rhetoric and national representation.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has ruled out working with New Zealand First's Winston Peters at the next election.
New Zealand First's leader responded to heckling in the House on Wednesday last week by attacking the Greens' Lawrence Xu-Nan , telling him to go back to his "own country".
Hipkins said Winston Peters' position as foreign affairs minister was completely untenable.
"He's making international headlines for all the wrong reasons. He can't continue in that job, he can't credibly represent New Zealand on the world stage."
However, Peters fired back, saying he already ruled out working with Labour 12 months ago.
Hipkins said he ruled out working with Peters and New Zealand First before the last election and he had not regretted it.
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