Winston Peters has recently been in the news due to his role as New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, particularly in the context of regional security and international diplomacy. His statements regarding the need for stability in the Pacific and collaboration with the United States highlight New Zealand's strategic interests amid increasing global tensions. Peters has also been vocal about the implications of foreign developments on local needs, emphasizing the importance of addressing poverty and education alongside geopolitical concerns.
Born on April 11, 1945, Winston Peters is a seasoned New Zealand politician with a long career in public service. He first entered Parliament in 1978 and has held various significant positions, including Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister in the 1990s. Peters is the leader of the New Zealand First party, which he founded in 1993. Known for his strong nationalist views and advocacy for New Zealand's sovereignty, he has been a prominent figure in New Zealand politics for decades, often influencing key policy discussions on immigration, foreign affairs, and economic management.
-
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed a bill to ban children under 16 from social media, requiring platforms to verify users' ages. The legislation aims to protect youth from harmful content and cyberbullying, modeled after Australia's recent laws. The bill needs support from coalition partners to pass.
-
Governments across the Asia-Pacific are implementing new laws to protect children from online harms, challenging major social media platforms. Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and others are enacting age verification and access restrictions, raising compliance concerns for tech giants in a region with a significant youth user base.
-
Winston Peters, during his visit to India, announced significant progress in trade negotiations between New Zealand and India, which began in March. The deal aims to enhance economic ties, despite delays over dairy tariffs. Bilateral trade reached $1.7 billion in 2023-24, with Peters emphasizing the importance of this relationship amid global trade tensions.
-
Three MPs from New Zealand's Māori Party have received unprecedented suspensions for performing a haka in parliament. Co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer were suspended for 21 days, while Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke received a seven-day ban. The suspensions have sparked debates about Māori representation and parliamentary conduct.