Will’s Word: Winston Peters takes Pacific message to Washington

It was good to see Winston Peters making the point to Marco Rubio that the war in Iran is having a real impact on New Zealand, and by extension, the Pacific.

After the meeting, Peters said he was there to make sure the US understood the cost of the conflict to Aotearoa and the Pacific in terms of the economy and fuel supplies.

It’s no secret that fuel prices are rising in Aotearoa, but supply remains relatively stable. The same can’t be said for parts of the Pacific, which are already under serious strain.

You look at what’s happening in the Cook Islands, where it was reported earlier this week that fuel could climb into the seven-dollar-a-litre range. That’s real pressure on families, on businesses, and on the wider economy.

That’s the part that worries me.

This is a war being driven by big global powers, but it’s small island nations that are copping the impact. They didn’t ask for it, they’re not part of the decision-making, yet they’re the ones paying for it at the pump.

So when Peters said he had a “serious discussion” with Rubio about fuel support for the Pacific, good. That needed to be said.

It does feel like the least the US can do. If you’re going to be involved in a conflict that disrupts global supply chains, then there has to be some responsibility for the fallout, especially in regions like ours.

I also think the tone out of Wellington has been measured but somewhat weak.

Christopher Luxon talking about the need for de-escalation is notable, but more should be done to condemn the harmful words being spoken by Trump. Though I will say Nicola Willis is doing a good job keeping people updated on the fuel supply here at home, which matters because people are watching this closely.

What worries me is if things escalate further, what that will mean for small island nations like the Cook Islands.

That’s why conversations like the one Peters had with Rubio matter.