Polls indicate NZ First may hold balance of power as major parties warn of ‘chaos’ or a fresh vote should Peters wield such influence
Ahead of New Zealand’s election, no politician has capitalised so much on opposition to vaccine mandates and antipathy to the political establishment as the veteran lawmaker and self-professed populist Winston Peters.
His minor New Zealand First party’s expected surge in support on Saturday – perhaps allowing it to hold the balance of power – would supply a voice in parliament to those most discontented with New Zealand’s leaders, and herald a higher profile for so-called culture war topics that Peters has ardently embraced.
