Latest news with #Peters'
Scoop
05-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Prime Minister's Office Only Given Hour's Notice Before Winston Peters' Speech Dismissing 'Trade War'
The Prime Minister's office was only given an hour's notice of the contents of a speech by the Foreign Affairs minister, in which Winston Peters criticised the language used by politicians regarding a "trade war." While Peters did not name Christopher Luxon in his speech, it was seen as a veiled swing at a series of phone calls the Prime Minister made to other world leaders over US tariffs, and the lack of notice he had been given ahead of a Foreign Policy speech by the Prime Minister a few days earlier. Correspondence first obtained by Newsroom and also released to RNZ show the communications Peters' office had with officials ahead of the speech in Hawai'i, and the notice it gave the Prime Minister's office. The background On 10 April, the Prime Minister delivered a speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in which he said free trade was "worth fighting for" and raised the idea of CPTPP and European Union nations working together to champion rules-based trade. He also announced his intention to speak to other world leaders about trade, amid the tariffs which had then-recently been announced by US President Donald Trump. The same afternoon, Peters told reporters at Parliament such remarks were "all very premature," and confirmed the Prime Minister had not discussed with him the idea of getting CPTPP and EU nations together. A day later, Peters was in Tonga, and during a press conference advised politicians to "tone down" and wait for the dust to settle. "Markets lose their nerve. Share market speculators lose their nerve. Politicians should not lose their nerve." He also said the Prime Minister should consult with him. "He didn't check it out when he made that speech and made those phone calls. And so I hope that he'll get my message and he'll call me next time." From there, Peters was off to Hawai'i, and delivered a speech in Honolulu. He told a gathering at the East-West Centre the "tendency to hype up a debate about how international trade works into a black-and-white, polarising issue has been unfortunate and misguided" and criticised "military language" like "trade war" and the "need to fight." Peters said such language "has at times come across as hysterical and short-sighted." Giving notice WhatsApp messages show Peters' senior foreign affairs adviser Michael Appleton informed staff in the Prime Minister and Trade Minister's offices about the quote Peters had given reporters at Parliament about the Prime Minister's idea to get the CPTPP and EU together to talk trade being "premature", as well as the responses he gave reporters in Tonga about the tariff approach. On 12 April, he also gave the group a heads up that Peters would be giving a speech in Honolulu, and that they would get an advance copy once it was finalised. In a separate WhatsApp group with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, Appleton informed them Peters had "decided" to "deliver brief (5-10 minute) remarks" about the US/NZ relationship in Hawai'i. Appleton said he would work on a draft on the six-hour flight to Honolulu, using the "existing briefing/comms pack" and Peters' instructions as a guide. "But warning you I'll want some reactions to a draft text later today once we have arrived in Honolulu," he said. The responses to Appleton's message were redacted. Via email, Appleton informed senior diplomats and officials of Peters' intention to deliver the speech on US/NZ relations, and sent them a draft. "It has been written to his instructions, and he has signed it off (subject to same [sic] final tweaking tonight). So the scope for further edits is limited." The recipients included the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Bede Corry, the US Ambassador Rosemary Banks, MFAT's deputy secretary for trade and economic Vangelis Vitalis, its deputy secretary for the Asias and America Grahame Morton, Americas divisional manager James Waite, and Pacific divisional manager Sarah Lee. Appleton told the group Peters' office would alert the Prime Minister, the Trade Minister, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet "to the fact of this speech, and then provide an advance copy one MFA has finished his tweaking. "So no need for you to do any coordination on that front." The advance copy was sent to the offices via WhatsApp an hour before Peters delivered the speech. 'Nothing to add' Following the speech, Luxon said coverage had been a "media beat-up" and insisted that he and Peters were actually on the same page. "We both agree that tariffs and trade wars are bad. We both think cool, calm and collected approaches are what is needed from ourselves and from our partners. We'll continue to build out our US relationship, and we're strengthening our bilateral ones," he told Morning Report. "So from our side, whether it's Winston and I, whether it's the five ministers dealing with it, and frankly, our whole cabinet, we're very aligned on our approach." Asked on Friday about the released of the communications and the notice his office was given, Luxon told reporters he had said all he wanted to say on the matter. "I've spoken about that ages ago, I've got nothing further to say about it. As you know, we're just making sure we're upholding the rules-based trading system." Peters' office did not wish to comment further. "We have nothing to add on this issue, which was well traversed at the time."
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First Post
19-06-2025
- Business
- First Post
New Zealand halts millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over deals with China
The self-governing Cook Islands, a country of 17,000 people, has a 'free association' relationship with its former colonial ruler New Zealand, which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defence read more This photo taken on June 15, 2025 shows a sign outside the Apii Nikao primary school, funded by the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Cook Islands on the main island of Rarotonga. AFP New Zealand's government halted aid to close partner the Cook Islands on Thursday because of a row over agreements the Pacific island nation struck with China. New Zealand 'paused' the payments and would not resume them until the Cook Islands took 'concrete steps' to restore trust, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. The self-governing Cook Islands, a country of 17,000 people, has a 'free association' relationship with its former colonial ruler New Zealand, which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cook Islands caught New Zealand off guard in February when it signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with China covering deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues. Peters' spokesman pointed to the 'lack of consultation' surrounding the 'agreements signed by the Cook Islands and China' as a reason for the aid pause. 'Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association,' he said. New Zealand provided US$116 million (NZ$194 million) to the Cook Islands over the past three years, according to government figures. It has paused a planned US$11 million development assistance payment for the next financial year. 'New Zealand will also not consider significant new funding until the Cook Islands Government takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust,' Peters' spokesman said. 'New Zealand hopes that steps will be taken swiftly to address New Zealand's concerns so that this support can be resumed as soon as possible.' The pause in funding comes as New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Peters said the funding pause was not timed to coincide with Luxon's trip to China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Peters said he discussed New Zealand's concerns about the Cook Islands agreement during a meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier this year. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 'About control' Brown survived a no-confidence vote in February over the deal with China, blaming 'misinformation' from New Zealand for destabilising his country. 'It becomes very clear this is not about consultation. This is about control,' he said at the time. Former Australian diplomat Mihai Sora said Cook Islands was being 'a bit cute'. 'And it's not surprising that New Zealand has reacted in such a way,' the Lowy Institute analyst told AFP. 'New Zealand obviously wants to repair its relationship with Cook Islands. It wants to block China from gaining increased strategic access to the Cook Islands, but also essentially to its immediate neighbourhood. 'But if Cook Islands pushes closer to China in a way that threatens New Zealand's national security, it's really not possible to have such intimate ties.' New Zealand also announced this year it would review aid to climate-threatened Pacific nation Kiribati, one of China's closest friends in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The review came after Kiribati's president brushed off a planned meeting with Peters at the last minute. 'This was especially disappointing because the visit was to be the first in over five years by a New Zealand minister to Kiribati,' Peters' office said at the time. 'For this reason, we are reviewing our development programme in Kiribati.' New Zealand had given around US$57 million in aid to Kiribati since 2021, according to official figures, including money for 'economic development and climate resilience'.
New Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
New Zealand halts aid to Cook Islands over China deals
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's government halted aid to close partner the Cook Islands on Thursday because of a row over agreements the Pacific island nation struck with China. New Zealand "paused" the payments and would not resume them until the Cook Islands took "concrete steps" to restore trust, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. The self-governing Cook Islands, a country of 17,000 people, has a "free association" relationship with its former colonial ruler New Zealand, which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defence. Cook Islands caught New Zealand off guard in February when it signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with China covering deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues. Peters' spokesman pointed to the "lack of consultation" surrounding the "agreements signed by the Cook Islands and China" as a reason for the aid pause. "Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association," he said. New Zealand provided US$116 million (NZ$194 million) to the Cook Islands over the past three years, according to government figures. It has paused a planned US$11 million development assistance payment for the next financial year. "New Zealand will also not consider significant new funding until the Cook Islands Government takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust," Peters' spokesman said. "New Zealand hopes that steps will be taken swiftly to address New Zealand's concerns so that this support can be resumed as soon as possible." The pause in funding comes as New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Peters said the funding pause was not timed to coincide with Luxon's trip to China. Peters said he discussed New Zealand's concerns about the Cook Islands agreement during a meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier this year. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brown survived a no-confidence vote in February over the deal with China, blaming "misinformation" from New Zealand for destabilising his country. "It becomes very clear this is not about consultation. This is about control," he said at the time. Former Australian diplomat Mihai Sora said Cook Islands was being "a bit cute." "And it's not surprising that New Zealand has reacted in such a way," the Lowy Institute analyst told AFP. "New Zealand obviously wants to repair its relationship with Cook Islands. It wants to block China from gaining increased strategic access to the Cook Islands, but also essentially to its immediate neighbourhood. "But if Cook Islands pushes closer to China in a way that threatens New Zealand's national security, it's really not possible to have such intimate ties." New Zealand also announced this year it would review aid to climate-threatened Pacific nation Kiribati, one of China's closest friends in the region. The review came after Kiribati's president brushed off a planned meeting with Peters at the last minute. "This was especially disappointing because the visit was to be the first in over five years by a New Zealand minister to Kiribati," Peters' office said at the time. "For this reason, we are reviewing our development programme in Kiribati."
Rhyl Journal
04-06-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Willie Peters hopes to end Hull KR's wait for trophy after ‘adversity' of past
Peters was just 20 years old when he made the decision to jet halfway around the world in 1999 to escape the suffocating expectations of Australia's NRL and link up with Gateshead Thunder for their first and only top-tier campaign. Just seven years later, and after a brief spell at Wigan that included an appearance in the 2000 Grand Final defeat to St Helens, Peters was forced to admit defeat in his battle against persistent hamstring injuries, and retired as a player at the age of just 26. Peters' subsequent trajectory as a coach, having started in the sponsorship department of South Sydney Rabbitohs, is somewhat mirrored by the rise of Rovers, who had been languishing in administration in the Northern Ford Premiership in the same year that he made his Super League bow. Welded together since 2023, when he replaced the departed Tony Smith in the east Hull hot-seat, Peters and Rovers have forged a formidable partnership, rising to the top of Super League on the back of last season's Grand Final defeat to Wigan, and setting up another chance to end almost half a century of hurt when they face Warrington this weekend. 'I was forced to finish at 26 and I probably didn't have the playing career I wanted to have,' conceded Peters. 'There were lots of regrets there, but I took my time to be grateful for what I did, playing first grade in the NRL and Super League. 'I think that's probably helped me as a coach, being able to talk to the players about gratitude and what it looks like. There's no doubt when you go through adversity and you see someone else who is hurting or vulnerable, you can help others.' Still a relative unknown when he arrived at Craven Park in 2023, Peters had began harbouring hopes of making it as a top-level coach even before he had been forced to come to terms with the fact that his playing days were over. Having spent six years as an assistant in the NRL, Peters' first number one role brought almost immediate success, as Rovers confounded most expectations by finishing fourth and reaching the Challenge Cup final, which they lost in heart-breaking fashion on golden point to Leigh. 'Life has a funny way of working out, and what you put into it you get back,' added Peters. 'I always wanted to get into coaching, but I probably got rushed into it a little bit after playing, and I wanted to start at the bottom and work my way up. 'I don't think that I didn't fulfil my potential as a player, but I had some setbacks that limited me in getting where I wanted to get to. That has put me in good stead to relate to people with injuries, and understand what these guys are going through.' A quarter of a century on from his single season in the north-east – a move Peters maintains was 'the best move I ever made' – the trajectories have switched, as Rovers reign over Super League while the remnants of the Gateshead club – now Newcastle – languish winless at the foot of League One. During his short stint in the role, which has already reportedly attracted attention back in the NRL, Peters has seen enough to resist making major chances to the pre-final process that took them to within a drop goal of snatching long-awaited silverware in 2023. 'After the game last time when we reflected there wasn't a great deal we would have changed,' added Peters. 'It's just making sure we control those things we can control. We've learned a lot from last year and the year before. It is going to be whoever turns up on the day.'
North Wales Chronicle
04-06-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Willie Peters hopes to end Hull KR's wait for trophy after ‘adversity' of past
Peters was just 20 years old when he made the decision to jet halfway around the world in 1999 to escape the suffocating expectations of Australia's NRL and link up with Gateshead Thunder for their first and only top-tier campaign. Just seven years later, and after a brief spell at Wigan that included an appearance in the 2000 Grand Final defeat to St Helens, Peters was forced to admit defeat in his battle against persistent hamstring injuries, and retired as a player at the age of just 26. Peters' subsequent trajectory as a coach, having started in the sponsorship department of South Sydney Rabbitohs, is somewhat mirrored by the rise of Rovers, who had been languishing in administration in the Northern Ford Premiership in the same year that he made his Super League bow. Welded together since 2023, when he replaced the departed Tony Smith in the east Hull hot-seat, Peters and Rovers have forged a formidable partnership, rising to the top of Super League on the back of last season's Grand Final defeat to Wigan, and setting up another chance to end almost half a century of hurt when they face Warrington this weekend. 'I was forced to finish at 26 and I probably didn't have the playing career I wanted to have,' conceded Peters. 'There were lots of regrets there, but I took my time to be grateful for what I did, playing first grade in the NRL and Super League. 'I think that's probably helped me as a coach, being able to talk to the players about gratitude and what it looks like. There's no doubt when you go through adversity and you see someone else who is hurting or vulnerable, you can help others.' Still a relative unknown when he arrived at Craven Park in 2023, Peters had began harbouring hopes of making it as a top-level coach even before he had been forced to come to terms with the fact that his playing days were over. Having spent six years as an assistant in the NRL, Peters' first number one role brought almost immediate success, as Rovers confounded most expectations by finishing fourth and reaching the Challenge Cup final, which they lost in heart-breaking fashion on golden point to Leigh. 'Life has a funny way of working out, and what you put into it you get back,' added Peters. 'I always wanted to get into coaching, but I probably got rushed into it a little bit after playing, and I wanted to start at the bottom and work my way up. 'I don't think that I didn't fulfil my potential as a player, but I had some setbacks that limited me in getting where I wanted to get to. That has put me in good stead to relate to people with injuries, and understand what these guys are going through.' A quarter of a century on from his single season in the north-east – a move Peters maintains was 'the best move I ever made' – the trajectories have switched, as Rovers reign over Super League while the remnants of the Gateshead club – now Newcastle – languish winless at the foot of League One. During his short stint in the role, which has already reportedly attracted attention back in the NRL, Peters has seen enough to resist making major chances to the pre-final process that took them to within a drop goal of snatching long-awaited silverware in 2023. 'After the game last time when we reflected there wasn't a great deal we would have changed,' added Peters. 'It's just making sure we control those things we can control. We've learned a lot from last year and the year before. It is going to be whoever turns up on the day.'
