Winston Peters out of NZ Parliament

Winston Peters is no longer in NZ Parliament.

Peters has had a four-decade long political career.

However, it appears to be over. His party, NZ First, was voted out of government for the second time. In the recent election, his party only received 2.7% of the vote.

At 75 it might be hard for him to get back into power. At this stage Peters has stayed low following the election. It is believed that he will talk to the press in a week or so.

Who is Winston Peters?

Wynston Raymond Peters was born in Whananaki. He was one of 11 children raised by Len Peters, of Ngātiwai, and Joan McInnes, from Scotland.

Before becoming a politician, Peters was a teacher for a year and in 1974 took up a job at the high-profile law firm Russell McVeagh.

He contested and lost the Northern Māori electorate seat for National in 1975.

His political career began when he contested the Hunua seat for National in 1978, After losing, took Labour’s Malcolm Douglas to court over the vote count and won.

In 1993 he started the New Zealand First Party and in the 2017 election, his party had the power. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern subsequently appointed Peters as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Peters was Acting Prime Minister from 21 June 2018 to 2 August 2018 while Ardern was on maternity leave.