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New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has refused demands to apologise, delete posts, or donate to a LGBT+ activist group, stating that they are “on the wrong side of history” in a viral post that has been viewed over 1.7 million times in less than one day.

Winston Peters has firmly rejected demands from Rainbow Action Tamaki to retract comments he made about protesters opposing New Zealand First’s bill to define men and women biologically in law, accusing the activist group of prioritising ego over substantive debate.

The post has struck a chord with many New Zealanders, generating significant public support.

The conflict began when Peters published a Facebook post blasting protesters who gathered in Auckland against the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill. In that initial post, Peters called the demonstrators “rent-a-crowd protesters”, “egotistical mouth-breathers”, and suggested their “egos are only matched by [their] learning difficulties”.

Lamenting the need for the legislation in the first place, Peters hit out at his critics, writing, “For us to have to legislate this basic biological reality shows how much the woke mind virus has spread in our society.”

For all those rent-a-crowd protesters in Auckland today protesting against NZFirst’s bill to define in law what a man and woman is – this isn’t about you.

You egotistical mouth-breathers can’t even figure out which flag to fly – is it Palestine, rainbow, or the Maori flag?

It…

— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) June 13, 2026

Supporters argue the measure protects women’s sex-based rights, while opponents contend it marginalises ‘transgender’ individuals.

Rainbow Action Tamaki Threatens Legal Action against Peters

On June 15, Rainbow Action Tamaki sent Peters a formal letter demanding he:

1. Delete the original post
2. Publish a public apology stating the protest was “lawful” and attended by people “genuinely expressing their views”
3. Donate $100 to RainbowYOUTH within five working days

The group characterised Peters’ language as defamatory, arguing the term “rent-a-crowd” falsely implies the protest was “paid for, manufactured, or attended by people acting dishonestly or without genuine political conviction.” They contended the post was capable of identifying them specifically and would lower their reputation “in the eyes of reasonable people.”

Peters’ Defiant Response

Rather than comply, Peters published a follow-up post that has garnered 1.7 million views on Facebook in less than 24 hours. Refusing all three demands, he reiterated the core focus of his argument: protecting women’s sex-based rights.

“Our stance”, he wrote on social media, “and our bill is about the rights, safety, and protection of women and girls who want safe spaces and bathrooms, fairness in sports, and to protect their rights as women.”

“Your egos know no bounds”, Peters wrote, characterising Rainbow Action Tamaki’s legal threat itself as evidence supporting his original criticism. “I called you a bunch of egotistical mouth-breathers who think the universe revolves around you. Your threat of legal action, thinking that you are the most important thing in this whole conversation, is precisely why ordinary kiwis have had a gutsful of you.”

Reiterating his point, he continued, “… this isn’t about you. We couldn’t give a rat’s derriere about what you do in your private lives, what colour you want to dye your hair, or whether you want to identify as they or them or a lamppost.”

Responding to the threat of legal action, Peters came back a threat of his own. “If you want to take me to court, go ahead, we will ensure we use discovery to read all the emails and communications you had with the Green Party and whomever else you coordinate with and find out who is really behind all of this.”

Today “Rainbow Action Tamaki” sent me a letter threatening legal action against my previous post calling them a self-important, egotistical, bunch of rent-a-crowd protesters when they protested about NZFirst’s definition of a woman bill last Sunday.

They want me to delete my… pic.twitter.com/S2HRwrHMlV

— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) June 15, 2026

Public Support Rallies Behind Peters

Peters’ refusal to back down has resonated strongly with sections of the New Zealand public. The posts have attracted tens of thousands of likes and shares, and hundreds of supportive comments, with many praising his willingness to defend women’s sex-based rights.

John Williams captured a sentiment expressed by many commenters: “What I find astounding is we actually have to pass something like this in the first place, as the saying goes ‘Common sense, isn’t that common’.”

Women, especially, expressed their support for Peters and the bill itself. Amanda Guthrie wrote: “Just got my vote… Winston Peters sorry I previously misunderstood you.”

Others were profoundly moved. “Thank you Mr Peters! Brings tears hearing these things’, wrote Arvie Florencio.

She continued, “Social media has been rampant with the lack of support for women and girls. We are called all sorts of names for wanting to defend our rights. I am a mother and I refuse to be called a birthing person or a chest feeder! We are being erased in society, our rights being taken away from us. Praying this bill passes and women’s rights be upheld here in New Zealand.”

Invoking the right to freedom of speech, Sarah Walker praised Peters’ post, writing, “This post brings me such joy!! I have missed logic, commonsense and the freedom to hold an opposing opinion. Keep it up.”

Jessica Poinga framed the debate in terms of democratic principle: “Democracy relies on free speech and robust discussion. If a viewpoint can’t withstand criticism, legal threats aren’t the answer. 100% stand with this bill.”

However, not all responses were supportive. Some commenters argued that Peters’ language was inflammatory, divisive and unkind. One commenter appealed, “Can we all just be nice… consider the reason the person offends you, consider the life experience that the other has had, the day they have had, just be nice. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all… these posts, they just inflame. Let’s just be nice.”

Brandon Montagnani expressed disgust at Peters’ post, writing, “Discriminating against someone because of their sexual orientation or sex, which includes their gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics is a violation of their human rights in Aotearoa. Being a bigot, Winston, doesn’t get you very far. There are more important issues than trying to define what a man or a woman is.”

‘Wrong Side of History’

The Definitions of Woman and Man Bill represents New Zealand First’s legislative effort to enshrine biological sex-based definitions in law.

The bill recently passed its First Reading in Parliament and is currently being considered by the Social Services and Community Committee.

While it remains to be seen whether the bill will successfully pass NZ’s Parliament, Peters appears to have the majority of public support behind him, and has hit out that anyone who opposes it will “find yourself on the wrong side of history.”

It is a sentiment finding significant support among Kiwis. As one woman expressed, “Well said Winston. I’m glad you refuse to back down. These people are taking up way too much time and energy, trying to get the rest of us to look at them and listen to them. Their private lives and sexual preferences are theirs and theirs alone. I neither want, or need, to know about it.”

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Image via Facebook.