New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says there has been what he describes as a “whitewashing” of New Zealand’s Covid-19 response, arguing the Royal Commission of Inquiry has failed to adequately address concerns raised by people who believe they suffered vaccine-related injuries.
Speaking with Radio Waatea, Peters defended his ongoing criticism of the inquiry, saying important questions remain unanswered despite the Commission’s recommendations and subsequent Government response.
Peters has consistently argued that the experiences of people who report adverse reactions to Covid-19 vaccines deserve greater recognition and investigation. He says the Royal Commission did not go far enough in examining those issues and has called for further scrutiny into vaccine injuries.
His comments come after a heated exchange in Parliament with Green MPs over the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 inquiry and its recommendations.
During the debate, Peters took exception to questions relating to his own Covid-19 vaccination status, insisting the focus should remain on the Commission’s findings rather than personal matters.
The parliamentary exchanges followed criticism over remarks Peters directed at Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan, which sparked further debate about political discourse inside the House.
The Government has previously accepted all recommendations from the first phase of the Royal Commission in principle or in some form, saying the inquiry has helped strengthen New Zealand’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.
Peters, however, maintains that important aspects of the pandemic response remain unresolved and says New Zealanders deserve greater transparency about decisions made during the Covid-19 response.
Away from the pandemic debate, Peters also criticised Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) project, taking aim at the branding and naming of the new rail network.
Referring to the promotional campaign surrounding the project, Peters dismissed those responsible as “a bunch of little turkeys,” saying he believed the branding failed to resonate with ordinary New Zealanders.
The City Rail Link remains one of the country’s largest transport infrastructure projects and is expected to transform Auckland’s rail network when it opens, although it has faced years of delays and significant cost increases.
Peters’ comments reflect New Zealand First’s continued focus on accountability, public spending and revisiting aspects of the country’s Covid-19 response as political debate intensifies ahead of the general election.
Whether discussing pandemic policy or major infrastructure projects, Peters says New Zealanders are looking for greater transparency and stronger scrutiny of government decisions.
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