Peters: Labour were ‘lions in opposition, lambs in power’ on Palestinian statehood

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters has doubled down on the government's decision to not recognise Palestinian statehood, while also urging the world’s biggest emitters to “face reality” on climate change.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Peters says that global climate negotiations risk becoming meaningless if major emitters refuse to act.

The World Bank’s Global Director for Climate Change, Valerie Hickey described Peters’ comments at a UN event last week as a ‘truth bomb’.

Peters singled out the world’s four biggest emitters - China, India, Russia and the United States - saying they weren’t pulling their weight when it comes to emissions reductions.

“We’re on a hiding to nothing, we can’t win, why don’t we face that [the lack of action from high emitting countries] before we press on, cost our people employment and fortune and dollars and money when in fact, we’re going nowhere.”

Despite his advocacy for climate change on the global stage, Peters defended his coalition government’s move to reopen oil and gas exploration saying a rush to zero carbon emissions risks blackouts, job losses and “third-world progressions”.

Listen to Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters' full interview below.

In September, the government announced that petroleum operators could apply for new prospecting and exploration permits beyond onshore Taranaki.

The government says the move will enable the work needed to grow New Zealand’s dwindling gas reserves and provide a more responsive mechanism to align with investor interest, and incentivise exploration plans.

Budget 2025 saw $200 million allocated towards co-investing in the development of new gas fields.

Winston Peters was at the United Nations General Assembly last week. Photo/Supplied

“New Zealand is a respectable country in this issue [of climate change] but we’re also realists.

“We’re saying we can make significant changes in the area of resilience and make enormous advances there, but we will not do it if we’re flat broke.”

Labour MP for Māngere, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, says the government’s climate and foreign policy moves are confusing and disconnected from public sentiment.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Lemauga accuses Peters of saying one thing on the world stage and doing the opposite at home.

“[New Zealanders] want to see their leaders being consistent and they’re also telling us they want to be consulted,” Lemauga says.

“We’re receiving letters, emails, even when we go out in the community, Kiwis are very angry at some of the decisions that are being made.”

Watch Lemauga Lydia Sosene's full interview below.

Lemauga says Labour would reinstate the oil and gas exploration ban if they were voted into government.

“Fossil fuels need to stay in the ground, so we’ve been really clear in terms of the environment.”

When it comes to Palestine, Lemauga disagrees with the government’s stance and warns it puts New Zealand on the wrong side of history.

Peters however, lashed out at critics including former Prime Minister Helen Clark and international relations expert Robert Patman.He also questioned why former Labour prime ministers Chris Hipkins and Jacinda Ardern didn’t recognise Palestine while in power.

“Please don't tell me that you're going to be a lamb when you get to Parliament, and get political power, and a lion when you're in opposition because that's what I'm seeing.”