17 Feb 2020

Jacinda Ardern washes hands of Winston Peters photos fracas

From Morning Report, 7:21 am on 17 February 2020

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is refusing to pass judgement on a controversy involving her Deputy Prime Minister.

Winston Peters told Magic Talk last week his party was involved in taking photos of journalist Guyon Espiner with former NZ First party president Lester Gray, which were later published in a blog.

Peters said "we took the photographs", but when contacted by RNZ said the photos were taken by a supporter who happened to be nearby.

"To say that I said that we physically went and took a photograph, that's bulldust," he said.

"NZF has no interest in following Mr Espiner or any other journalists. The very reverse applies. No private investigators have been engaged to follow Mr Espiner or anyone else. A supporter thought it odd seeing ex-president Lester Grey with Mr Espiner so took a photo. Simple."

Ardern told Morning Report on Monday she didn't think it was an issue she needed to discuss.

"I had nothing to do with this and I'm not going to stand here and explain it, nor defend it, because it's not for me."