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National deputy leader Nicola Willis is claiming Winston Peters’ failure to notify Prime Minister Christopher Luxon that his office was releasing to the Herald emails showing the Prime Minister wanted to show “explicit public support” for the US-led war in Iran is a “political game” that threatens the good faith provisions in the coalition agreement. Willis is also latching onto contradictory comments from Peters on the matter to warn voters the New Zealand First leader could become similarly “confused” during future coalition negotiations and support a Labour coalition into government, something Peters has previously ruled out. It follows Luxon claiming Peters had “clearly put politics ahead of the national interest” and had mischaracterised Luxon’s position on the Middle East conflict. Willis’ broadside is the latest in a recent string of clashes between National and New Zealand First as the former appears to be bleeding votes to its coalition partner led by Peters. Peters today admitted a “process mistake” was made in releasing emails between advisors of Luxon and Peters to the Herald, which were reported this morning, without notifying Luxon. Peters’ comments clarified earlier statements indicating Peters believed no mistake had been made. Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Willis said the decision to release those emails should have been made in concert with Luxon’s office and suggested the failure to do so was “intentional”. “The problem here is the coalition agreement sets out very clearly that we will act in good faith, and in a no-surprises fashion, his office failed to uphold those principles,” she said. Christopher Luxon (left) and Winston Peters met last night. Photo / Mark Mitchell Willis wouldn’t answer directly when asked if it constituted a breach of the agreement, acknowledging mistakes happen but noting Peters’ comments weren’t clear. “It appears to be political game playing at a time when the country is experiencing a fuel crisis, significant conflict in the Middle East, at a time when New Zealanders want their ministers focused on them and their interests.” Willis, referring to Peters’ earlier denial a mistake had been made, claimed the Foreign Affairs Minister seemed “very very confused”. “What is to say he won’t have a bout of similar confusion in the coalition talks?” Asked to clarify her meaning, Willis responded: “[Peters] has said that he won’t support a Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori government, but what if he gets confused?” Peters this afternoon admitted there had been a “process mistake” in not informing Luxon’s office of the decision to release the emails to the Herald. “In the end, I made the mistake,” he said. “We don’t blame others, but funnily enough, a couple of my staff are going to be at a training session this afternoon on the matter.” Peters claimed an “assumption” was made that Luxon’s office was also releasing the emails; an act he defended. “If it should be disclosed, disclose it, there’s no good reason not to. That’s the view I’ve always had myself. “I should have made sure that the Prime Minister was on the same wavelength.” He wouldn’t respond to questions about Luxon’s statement, specifically the Prime Minister’s claims Peters put politics over the national interest, Peters had mischaracterised Luxon’s position and Luxon’s position on the conflict. “Look, that’s yesterday’s story.” In a statement, a spokesman for Luxon told the Herald yesterday the pair had met in Peters’ office, during which Peters had acknowledged a mistake had been made. The spokesman said the emails “mischaracterise the PM’s position” and said Luxon would have expected Peters to show “better judgment”. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said some of his staff were going through a training session related to the matter. Photo / Mark Mitchell The Herald’s exclusive report revealed emails between advisors in the days after war broke out in February when the United States and Israel struck targets i...
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