Winston Raymond Peters, also known mononymously as Winston, is a New Zealand politician who has been the leader of New Zealand First since it was founded in 1993. He was re-elected for a fifteenth time at the 2023 general election, having previously been a member of Parliament (MP) from 1979 to 1981, 1984 to 2008 and 2011 to 2020. Peters has served as the 13th deputy prime minister of New Zealand and 25th minister of foreign affairs since November 2023.
Peters became an outspoken critic of his party leader, Jim Bolger (pictured in 1992).
Peters on the campaign trail in Auckland, c. 1993
Peters greets US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at Auckland Airport in 2008.
The New Zealand National Party, shortened to National or the Nats, is a centre-right New Zealand political party that is the current ruling party. It is one of two major parties that dominate contemporary New Zealand politics, alongside its traditional rival, the Labour Party.
Sir Keith Holyoake, Prime Minister, 1957 and 1960–1972
Sir Robert Muldoon, Prime Minister, 1975–1984
Dame Jenny Shipley, Prime Minister, 1997–1999