Peters Mocks Pensioner's Critique of NZ First Record

Winston Peters accused a 78-year-old woman of having memory problems on Saturday after she challenged NZ First’s track record on living costs. The exchange occurred at a public meeting in Papakura. Peters had just finished an hour-long speech criticizing the mainstream media and urging supporters to withhold votes from the National Party.

Peters read the woman’s social media post aloud to the crowd. He referred to her by the name Wendy. She questioned what her party achieved during the three-year coalition with National. Her post described managing on a single pension as a joke. She cited rising food and power bills, dropping house prices, and worsening healthcare access.

The message ended in capital letters asking what New Zealand First had done for her. Peters responded by telling the audience he believed the 78-year-old lady obviously had memory problems. The remark drew laughter from the room.

He listed several policies he credited to his party. These included increasing pension payments and scrapping the superannuation surtax. Peters said his party abolished the surtax completely. He also pointed to the Gold Card, hearing-aid support, and help with winter power bills.

Peters argued his party insisted on keeping the pension age at 65 and opposed means-testing it. He told Wendy that these were the actions taken for her benefit. He said he was presenting the list to ensure she had specific facts to consider when voting.

He claimed other parties would abandon young and old people when difficulties arose. Peters stated that one party had defended the country’s older citizens even when its leader was young.

The meeting concluded with Peters urging the crowd to remember these policy wins. He emphasized the need to hold the party accountable for these specific achievements.