“The hypocrisy of the left knows no bounds,” declared New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, following a late-night attack on his Auckland home that left a window smashed and his family shaken.
Peters also accused sections of the political left and pro-Palestine activists of “violent, hate-filled behaviour” and “faux outrage”, saying their actions had crossed a dangerous line.
“Not one question in the House today asking about the progress of the peace deal in Gaza. Not one letter or email of support, not one interview, not one comment,” Peters wrote.
“It’s almost as if they want an excuse to keep banging their drums, waving their flags, and swinging their crowbars — all the while crying havoc and unleashing the dogs of war.”
Police confirmed they were called to Peters’ St Mary’s Bay home on Monday night after a report of wilful damage. “The offender had left the scene and was not immediately able to be located. Inquiries are ongoing,” a spokesperson said.
Peters, who was not home at the time, said the attack left glass shattered over his dog while his partner and a guest were inside. He described the offender as a “disgusting coward” and said a sign was left on his front door. “This is truly gutless,” he said.
“When we have protesters, political bloggers, and MPs encouraging this behaviour, posting politicians’ home addresses online, and acting with pure ignorance and extremism — this is the result.”
The New Zealand First leader said the attack reflected a “slippery slope of radicalisation” among elements of the left. “New Zealanders need to be deeply concerned about where our country is going and who is behind this divisive and violent behaviour,” he warned.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Peters again condemned the vandalism and the recent protests targeting politicians’ homes, calling such acts “a disgrace”.
“It has caused distress to our families and disturbed the peace of our neighbours,” he told MPs.
“We must call out those members of this House who collude with protesters targeting politicians’ homes. Do you have no shame?”
Peters also hit out at opposition MPs and the media for ignoring diplomatic progress on the Gaza peace plan. He said that while New Zealand had condemned both Hamas’ terrorist attacks and Israel’s “overwhelming” military response, the focus must now shift back to diplomacy.
He noted that the United States-led peace proposal — supported by several Muslim-majority nations including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Egypt — represented “a possible first step to achieving these goals”.
Calling for a “refocus” of New Zealand’s foreign policy on the Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions, Peters said:
“Every day spent on Gaza and Palestinian statehood recognition is a day not spent on the important work of making New Zealanders safer and more prosperous.”
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