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Winston Peters

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 21: Winston Peters talks to media about the resignation of Nick Smith at Parliament on March 21, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. Minister Smith had been involved in controversy after he appeared to intervene for friend and National Party activist, Bronwyn Pullar with an ACC claim while he was ACC minister.

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About Winston Peters

Winston Raymond Peters (born 11 April 1945) is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being sacked in 1991 and losing party endorsement for his Tauranga seat. He returned to Parliament as an independent, then formed his own party, New Zealand First. In Opposition, Peters became an outspoken critic of New Zealand immigration policies. As leader of New Zealand First, he held the balance of power following the 1996 election, enabling the National Party to form a coalition government and securing for himself the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer. However, the coalition dissolved in 1998 following the replacement of Bolger by Jenny Shipley as Prime Minister.

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