Biography
Winston Peters is a New Zealand First list MP and the party’s founder and leader. First elected in 1978, he is one of New Zealand’s longest-serving MPs and currently serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the coalition government. He has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister on multiple occasions.
Impact this term
54th Parliament · since the 2023 general election
These are factual counts from the public record, not a score. MPs do different jobs: ministers run portfolios rather than sponsoring members’ bills, and MPs first elected in 2023 have a shorter record. We show the facts so you can decide what counts as doing enough.
Policies they shape, and why
Voting record
Most votes in Parliament are party votes, where MPs vote as a block with their party. So on the large majority of votes Winston Peters voted the same way as NZ First. The votes that show an MP’s own view are conscience (personal) votes, where MPs vote individually.
No conscience (personal) votes are recorded for Winston Peters this term. These votes are rare, because Parliament decides most matters by party vote. We record them from Hansard as they occur.
Declared interests
What Winston Peters has declared in the official register: directorships, property, trusts, debts and gifts. Registers actual and potential conflicts of interest; it is not a measure of wealth.
1 Company directorships and controlling interests Oriwa Enterprises Limited (not trading) – consultancy and contract advice 4 Beneficial interests in, and trusteeships of, trusts Rawhiti Land Trust (beneficiary) 6 Real property House – St Marys Bay, Auckland House – Whananaki South, Northland Land – Whananaki South, Northland 10 Debts owed by you Westpac Bank – mortgage 11 Overseas travel costs United Arab Emirates – bilateral meetings with counterparts and other ministerial meetings and visits. Contributor to domestic travel and accommodation: Government of the United Arab Emirates. People's Republic of China – bilateral meetings with counterparts and other ministerial meetings and visits. Contributor to domestic travel and accommodation: Government of the People's Republic of China. Mongolia – bilateral meetings with counterparts and other ministerial meetings and visits. Contributor to domestic travel and accommodation: Government of Mongolia. Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – bilateral meetings with counterparts and other ministerial meetings and visits. Contributor to domestic travel and accommodation: Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal – bilateral meetings with counterparts and other ministerial meetings and visits. Contributor to domestic travel and accommodation: Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. J. 7 ANNUAL RETURNS AS AT 31 JANUARY 2026 43 Republic of India – bilateral meetings with counterparts and other ministerial meetings and visits. Contributor to domestic travel…
Register of Pecuniary Interests (parliament.nz) · as at 31 January 2026Taxpayer-funded expenses
Travel and accommodation paid by Parliamentary Service for 1 January – 31 March 2026. Ministers’ expenses are disclosed separately.
Roles & responsibilities
Latest coverage
News and video mentioning Winston Peters, from the sources on our coverage page.
In the news
Details sourced from parliament.nz and the public record. Bills, written questions, declared interests and expenses refresh automatically from Parliament’s official sources; conscience votes are recorded from Hansard as they occur. Photo: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, CC BY 2.0 (source ).