New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has launched an extraordinary attack on Labour leader Chris Hipkins, saying he should be in prison over decisions involving COVID vaccinations for teenagers.

In an interview with chrislynchmedia.com, Peters accused the former Prime Minister of disregarding medical advice concerning second doses of the Pfizer vaccine for young people.

“How can he even be a candidate for Parliament? How can he be a leader right now?” Peters said. He went further, saying Hipkins “should be behind bars explaining why he’s poisoned people.”

Peters accused Hipkins of exposing teenagers to the risk of myocarditis, serious inflammation of the heart muscle associated with COVID vaccination.

“If he doesn’t like that, why doesn’t he go and sue me for defamation? But he won’t, will he? Get all the evidence there, he’ll be gone.”

His accusations follow findings by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand’s COVID response, released in March.

The inquiry found that in December 2021, the Government’s COVID Vaccine Technical Advisory Group recommended against requiring teenagers aged 12 to 17 to receive two doses of the Pfizer vaccine to comply with vaccination mandates. The advice reflected concerns about myocarditis, particularly among younger males following their second dose.

A Ministry of Health briefing addressed to Hipkins later that month referred to earlier concerns about requiring teenagers to be fully vaccinated. However, the Royal Commission found that the briefing was considered by Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, while stronger advice issued on 9 December was not passed on to ministers.

The commission criticised the failure to communicate that advice, but did not establish that Hipkins personally received or deliberately ignored it. A Cabinet paper in Hipkins’ name later showed he was aware of the advice by March 2022. By then, 92 percent of 12 to 17 year olds had already received both doses.

Hipkins has said he had forgotten about that paper, and that it did not change the fact ministers did not have the advice when decisions about mandates were being made.

The advice concerned compulsory second doses, rather than recommending against vaccination for teenagers generally. The commission also found that myocarditis was a very rare vaccine side effect and that the risk was greater following COVID infection.

The inquiry did not find that Hipkins knowingly harmed young people.

Peters accused mainstream news organisations of failing to adequately investigate decisions made during the pandemic. “Has anybody sued? Is any journalist picking up and saying, ‘Hey Winston, that is either true or it’s defamatory’?” He also claimed political reporting was biased ahead of the election.

“The mainstream media is massively on the side of the left. This election stinks in that context because nobody’s getting both sides of the story.”

Peters questions Labour’s economic record

Peters also criticised the previous Labour Government’s management of public finances during the pandemic.

“For COVID you borrowed over 60 billion, of which you didn’t spend 30 billion on COVID. Where’s it gone? No one knows.”

He provided no supporting evidence for those figures during the interview.

Peters said New Zealand’s economic difficulties were greater than political parties acknowledged ahead of the 2023 election.

“We were saying, for goodness sake, you’re not reading how bad this economy is. It’ll take two or three terms to turn this around. That’s how bad it is.”

Asked whether he was surprised by the close election contest, Peters pointed to promises made by National and ACT to repair the economy.

“You promised to fix it and you haven’t, so why shouldn’t we give you another turn?”

Peters defends foreign aid spending

Turning to foreign policy, Peters defended New Zealand’s overseas aid programme against criticism that the money should instead be directed towards domestic services.

He said many projects being criticised originated under the National Government led by Sir John Key. “All the projects they talked about were started by, guess who, the National Party under John Key.”

Peters warned that withdrawing assistance from Pacific nations could allow other countries to increase their influence in the region.

“Otherwise, for example, somebody else is going to fill the vacuum and all of a sudden you’re going to say, ‘What happened to our security down here?'”

He also questioned whether New Zealand was doing enough to develop international trade opportunities, pointing to Singapore and Ireland as examples of smaller economies investing heavily in their overseas presence.

“We need the world desperately to sell our products to.” Asked whether he wanted to continue as Foreign Minister if New Zealand First returned to government, Peters refused to speculate.

“My staff and my team, my members of Parliament, all know that I don’t plan beyond the election. I plan only for election night.”

He said politicians should be motivated by public service rather than ministerial ambitions.

“If you’re wanting to just be a minister, then don’t be a candidate for us.”

Peters attacks Greens’ tax proposals

Peters also criticised the Green Party’s proposed wealth and inheritance taxes, warning they could discourage investment and drive businesses overseas.

Asked about Chlöe Swarbrick’s interest in becoming Finance Minister, he questioned her business experience.

“She’s got a brilliant career in business. She had an ice cream shop for five weeks and it went belly up.”

Peters predicted serious economic consequences if the Greens gained influence over financial policy. “There’s going to be a huge exodus from this country, not of workers, but of business people and investment if they ever get near the reins.”

He also dismissed opinion polls suggesting growing support for the Greens. “These polls are fictitious. I’ve said it over and over again.”

Peters said New Zealand First’s internal polling suggested the party would perform considerably better than publicly available surveys indicated.

“We’re going to shock these people on election night. All you’ve got to do is stay your focus.”