Got it in one!

Winston Peters is probably the most destructive politician in NZ since Robert Muldoon.

I'd consider voting for him because he stands for the things that I think make best policy, for example: not repealing the foreshore and seabed act, not selling state owned assets, protecting jobs for nzers by not allowing unfettered access to nz for migrants in a recession. For the record, I'm young, not old, so obviously he has some appeal beyond the blue-rinse brigade!

This guy is a snake oil salesman of the worst possible sort doing deals with whoever for the baubles of power as he did in the past and then lying through his teeth, blaming the media and whomever may not be blinded by his slick populist rhetoric. I saw through this guy when he first slipped out from under his rock in the late 1980's/early 1990's and hoped that at last we had seen the back of him. He's only interested in power and attention from those with addled enough intelligence and imagination to serve HIS agenda - Winston first. Repealing the Seabed and Foreshore Act - I have no problem with that as a 6th generation Pakeha New Zealander. The present government is about building partnerships and relationships across a broad political spectrum where possible in areas of interest such as The Maori Party, Act and the Greens. Winston Peters is totally incapable of doing so as his record shows. #2 Loose - you may not be the blue rinse brigade but you are typical Winston fodder, a sucker is born every minute. Peters was part of government in one shape or another over the past 10 years and we need new blood and ideas, not going back to the past of devision and derision.

C'mon on Loose #2 tell the truth; you are actually Winston aren't you! I guess you don't have much to do these days since you lost all your baubles when we kicked you out of office last year. Hopefully, Winston has about as much chance of making a political comeback as Michael Jackson does of playing his London concerts this month!

"Preying on fear and ignorance" and "trying to summon up the support of the dumb and bigoted".

Maybe Winston could get a job as a minister for Destiny Church?

I think it's short sighted and offensive to say that the only people supporting Winston's "playing of the race card" are 'dumb and bigoted'.

In my view I'm neither, and Winston (as much as I don't like the guy) appeals to me on this issue simply because he's OPPOSING the playing of the race card. You say he accentuates division over race, when the VERY THING he opposes, in this case, is division over race.

There needs to be a line in the sand so that New Zealand can move on. For all it's failings, the Act in question drew that line on one small issue. If we keep these issues alive, Bill, the bleeding will never stop, and the division of New Zealanders into "racially privileged" and "not" will continue.

If he wasn't so loathesome and flawed in so many ways, I'd have been tempted to vote Winston over National in '08 because of NZ First's policies in this area alone.

My ancestors came here and took land from the Maori.

I'm proud of that and shan't give it back. Finders keepers etc.

go Winston.

Winston Peters rocks. I would have voted for him if I didn't want National in so badly.

#2 Loose: Agree with you.

I'm not old either

@ the author: Has anyone been banned from eeling in certain areas unless they pay a huge ransom? Short answer, yes; and

He doesn't accentuate divisions over race, he raises the existing divisional problems that exist that should be mended but are in reality being accentuated by favouritism, special treatment and tax payer funded settlement that could be used much more wisely especially during these financial times.

here here.

The guy is an embarrassment to NZ. Granted he is intelligent and swarve, but he is completely without scruples. His interest extends only to getting a higher profile through the media (first) and then through the votes that follow. Watch him; he picks topics and stances that are both controversial and that make large blocks of voters nervous. Grey power, anti Maori, anti Asian…..He is dangerous in that he is divisive and narcissist, yet looking to represent “the people” ! That smile says it all

My ancestors didn't steal any land from Maori - so why the heck do we keep having to pay for it!?! As far as I can tell at the time they sold it they were more than chuffed with what they got for it. As the real eastate people say when asked 'how much is a property worth' "what you're prepared to sell/buy it for" and thats it. Totally isn't my problem (or 3/4 quarters of NZ problem)that they didn't know what it was going to be worth now.

Heck if we could do that then I'd demand another 100k for my house sale 5 years ago (because it's worth that much now..)

Davo #7 - good on ya! They took it from the Moriori's anyway!!