Winston Peters won’t be apologising or deleting a social media post criticising protesters who opposed New Zealand First’s proposed legal definition of a woman, after Rainbow Action Tamaki sent him a letter alleging ‘defamation.’

Peters posted the response today after receiving a letter from Rainbow Action Tamaki, which organised Saturday’s Auckland protest against the Legislation Definitions of Woman and Man Amendment Bill.

The group demanded Peters delete his earlier post, publish a public apology, and donate $100 to RainbowYOUTH within five working days.

Peters rejected the demands outright.

“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,” Peters said.

“They want me to delete my post, apologise, and donate money to their charity.

“My post is now passing 1.7 million views on Facebook. So no. I won’t be deleting it with all the positive responses it is receiving from Kiwis with common sense who are backing our stance.”

In the letter, dated 15 June 2026, Rainbow Action Tamaki said Peters’ comments about those who attended the protest were defamatory.

The group said Peters referred to protesters as “rent a crowd protesters,” “egotistical mouth breathers,” and people whose “egos are only matched by their learning difficulties.”

“We consider that post defamatory,” the group said.

Rainbow Action Tamaki said Peters was entitled to defend his bill and criticise the political views of those who opposed it, but claimed his comments went beyond political disagreement.

“The issue is that your post went beyond political disagreement and made false and damaging statements about a specific, identifiable group of people who attended a lawful public protest,” the letter said.

The group said the phrase “rent a crowd protesters” suggested the protest was paid for, manufactured, or attended by people acting dishonestly or without genuine political conviction.

“That is false,” the letter said.

The letter asked Peters to publish an apology accepting his description of protesters as “rent a crowd” was wrong and saying the protest was a lawful public demonstration by people genuinely expressing their views.

Peters also refused to make the requested donation.

“We also won’t be donating any money to their cause mainly due to not knowing which kind of flag it will be spent purchasing seeing as they can’t make their mind up what protest they are at,” Peters said.

He then delivered what he described as an apology.

“And as for me saying I’m sorry: I am sorry. I am sorry that you have proven us right. Your egos know no bounds.

“I called you a bunch of egotistical mouth breathers who think the universe revolves around you, and this 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 and your rent a crowd.”

Peters said Rainbow Action Tamaki could take the matter to court if it wanted to.

“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,” Peters said.

He said New Zealand First’s position was not about protesters’ private lives, but about the rights and safety of women and girls.

“And for the last time, 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.

“Our stance 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.

“If you seriously want to protest against that cause then you will find yourself on the wrong side of history.”

Rainbow Action Tamaki said in its letter that more than 1000 people attended the Auckland protest because they cared about the issue.

The group said Peters’ post was likely to lower the reputation of Saturday’s protesters and Rainbow Action Tamaki organisers by portraying them as “inauthentic, unintelligent, dishonest, and unworthy of serious public engagement.”

It said it reserved all rights, including the right to seek legal advice and pursue remedies if the post was not corrected.

Peters ended his response by saying, “We would wish you luck in your journey to figure that out, but it seems you would be too stupid to know what to do with it.”