Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says he does not believe he made a mistake in releasing internal emails from his office.

In an exclusive interview with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, he said he no longer stands by an earlier apology regarding the release of internal office emails.

The documents revealed a behind-the-scenes clash between Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon over New Zealand’s response to the war in Iran.

“I acknowledged that I’d made a mistake and I found out this morning I didn’t make a mistake,” Peters said.

“I thought I hadn’t done the check and therefore paid for it… now I find out what I was concerned about, in fact it did happen.”

The emails, first reported by the New Zealand Herald, show that while the government publicly "acknowledged" US-led strikes on Iran, emails from Luxon's office indicated a preference for ‘explicit public support' for the United States and Israel.

Coalition under pressure? Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, left, says Winston Peters, right, acknowledged making a "mistake". But the Foreign Minister tells Pacific Mornings his earlier apology was based on an incorrect assumption. Peters insists the coalition remains in "unity all the way to the election". Photo/Supplied

Peters’ office resisted, calling such a move “imprudent” and a risk to New Zealand’s national interests.

At the time, the Government’s public stance, agreed by Luxon and Peters, was to acknowledge the strikes without explicitly supporting them.

The leaked emails reveal a significant split within the Beehive over whether New Zealand should offer "explicit public support" for US-led strikes in the Iran war. Photo/Beehive

'The truth will out'

Following a meeting between the two leaders on Wednesday night, Luxon’s office told media that Peters had "acknowledged he made a mistake" and was told to use "better judgment."

But Peters tells Terite that his earlier admission was based on a wrong assumption.

“I thought I hadn’t done the check and therefore paid for it… now I find out what I was concerned about, in fact it did happen,” Peters says. “The truth will out, and I intend to make sure it does out.”

He also rejected reporting that described the meeting as “crisis talks”, criticising journalists for not seeking his side of the story.

Despite the disagreement, Peters dismissed suggestions of instability within the coalition Government.

“There’s no coalition in disarray… we’ll be in unity all the way to the election,” he said.

Minister Peters says the war in Iran is causing "significant economic impacts" for Pacific nations, who are facing skyrocketing fuel costs and disrupted supply chains. Photo/Supplied

The impact on the Pacific

The row comes at a sensitive time for Pacific nations, who are feeling the economic pinch of the conflict through rising fuel prices and shipping costs.

Earlier this month, Peters travelled to Washington to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where he highlighted the "significant economic impacts" the Iran war is having on small island nations.

He has called on the US to send fuel tankers to the region to help ease the pressure.

Watch Winston Peters' full interview below.

A matter of judgement

Peters also took the opportunity to fire a shot back at Luxon’s criticism of his political judgement.

“He’s quite right… he expects better political judgement from me, and that’s exactly what he’s been getting,” Peters says.

While the Prime Minister’s office has been approached for further comment, the fallout from the emails shows a clear divide in the Beehive: a Prime Minister wanting to align closely with traditional allies, and a Foreign Minister insisting on a "New Zealand first" approach to global conflict.