Winston Peters Takes Jab At Christopher Luxon in Now Deleted Tweet

A brief but pointed post from Winston Peters’ official ministerial account has drawn attention after appearing to correct Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s description of a new trade deal with Southeast Asian nations.

Late Tuesday night (NZT), while attending the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Luxon posted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, showing him linking arms with regional leaders. The caption read: “I’ve just done a deal with Southeast Asian nations that will help grow our economy at home.”

Not long after, Peters’ account reshared the image, adding a single word: “We ...”

The post was later deleted, but not before it was widely shared and interpreted as a subtle reminder that New Zealand’s diplomatic achievements are the result of a collective government effort — not the work of one individual.

At the time of the post, Peters was in Stockholm, holding talks with Sweden’s foreign minister and attending the first New Zealand–Nordic 5 Foreign Ministers Meeting.

A staff member based in New Zealand later said Peters was “unaware of the circumstances” around the post. The Prime Minister’s office has also been approached for comment.

In his original message, Luxon wrote: “Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in the world. And New Zealand’s future economic prosperity lies here in the Indo-Pacific. That’s why I’m proud we are now one of a handful of Asean’s Comprehensive Strategic Partners.”

The Prime Minister has since travelled to South Korea for the Apec forum, where trade and regional cooperation are expected to remain key talking points.

While both leaders continue their international engagements, the brief online exchange offered a rare glimpse into the delicate balance of messaging between New Zealand’s top two political figures.