Former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is the guest speaker at an upcoming event for senior citizens in east Auckland.
Grey Power Howick Pakuranga and Districts Association president Peter Bankers says the organisation’s next meeting is being staged in Howick on March 24.
It will get under way at 1pm with a brief extraordinary general meeting, followed by a talk from new Howick ward councillor Maurice Williamson, he says.
“Quite a few members were wanting to hear Maurice Williamson in his return to politics.
“So in his new role as councillor he is our first speaker who, among other things, will speak on helping the mayor [Wayne Brown] fill the hole in his budget.
“2 pm sees a 15-minute refreshment break after which we experience the political homecoming of Winston Peters, who can speak on whatever he wants.
“We anticipate excitement, entertainment, tension and some enlightenment from both speakers. We finish at 3.15pm.”
Before entering Parliament in 1979, Peters worked as a lawyer in Howick.
He’s led the New Zealand First political party since 1993 and served as Deputy Prime Minister in a coalition Government with Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from 2017-2020.
Peters was not re-elected to Parliament at the 2020 general election when New Zealand First received 2.6 per cent of the party vote nationwide, below the 5 per cent threshold needed.
Since leaving Parliament, Peters has been a vocal critic of the current Labour Government.
The meeting is at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, 11 Vincent Street, Howick, from 1pm on March 24. All are welcome and entry is free.