www.republicans.org.nz

Date 4th April 2008

Press Release

For Immediate Release.      

Collateral Damage from NZ First.

In October last year the Republicans called upon Mr Peters to resign as Foreign Minister, says Republicans Deputy Leader Bevan Berg.

We said then - The untenable position of the New Zealand First Party Leader as Foreign Affairs Minister was always going to come to grief, with Winston Peters going into election year mode, toying with emotions as he always does.

We also asked - Who in the current cabinet would best manage this position during what will undoubtedly be a turbulent election year, and will the Prime Minister have the fortitude to address this issue in the current cabinet reshuffle? 

We should not be surprised that Mr Peters has found an apprentice in Peter Brown to avoid compromising his Foreign Affairs position, but we still recognise the familiar footprints of a Peters Election ploy.

How can those loyal to New Zealand First still consider their party the centrist party that would represent the NZ ideal, with a malcontent as a leader, who is busily stirring up division and bitterness between cultural groups within our country?

I very much doubt that another 4 x 2 campaign by Mr Peters will breach the 5% threshold this election, but it would be a sad day for New Zealand if the testament to his political demise was an independent Asian Party.          

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