Winston back in the house 

Rt Hon Winston Peters was back in Wellington this week following another valuable round of international partnership travel. Even TV1, in an extended interview on foreign affairs matters this week, reported that within a matter of months as Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston has already met with 11 of the 17 Pacific forum nations. 

There is no one better to represent our great country on the world stage, but we also love having the New Zealand First party leader back on home soil, reminding Kiwis, and indeed parliamentarians, why experience and commonsense are integral to our democracy. 

Following a speech from the opposition leader last weekend, Winston took to social media to remind said opposition of a few home truths. Because when it comes to Maori Wards, Labour showed a complete and utter disregard not only to the voters, but to the process of our democracy. 

New Zealand First will never stand for the democratic process being trampled upon, not least of all by this continued ideological clap trap coming from the left. 

If you missed it, here’s what Winston said in full. Make sure you have a read. 

Prickly partners and fuel resilience 

Getting into bed with a kina would be a very prickly experience. That’s what Shane Jones had to say this week in an interview with Waatea on what it would be like to work with The Maori Party. 

Shane is far more interested in creating jobs, boosting the economy, and championing equal citizenship. As Kerre Woodham said on Newstalk ZB this week, good luck telling Shane Jones he’s ‘not Maori enough’. 

As always, Matua Shane is getting on with the job that New Zealand First got voted in to do. And this week, he announced that New Zealand’s fuel security study is about to get under way. 

The findings of this study will help to inform the development of the fuel security plan. An interim report investigating the reopening of Marsden Point refinery is due before the end of 2024. 

We campaigned to solidify our nation’s self-sufficiency and national resilience and New Zealand First is delivering on that commitment. We will continue to bring you the developments on this study as it progresses. 

Caucus catch up 

Shane Jones playing in the 'Rumble in Russell' charity rugby match, supported by fellow New Zealand First MPs Jenny Marcroft and Tanya Unkovich.

Casey Costello attends the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre to recognize the graduation of 5 Police dogs and 5 Customs detector dogs.

Andy Foster and Mark Patterson meet with New Plymouth airport, before Mark heads to meet with Branching Out to see their nutritional and medicinal planting site for scientific study.