Foreign Affairs Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has rejected Labour claims New Zealand has damaged its international standing, while taking aim at Te Pāti Māori policies and putting the cost of living at the centre of the election campaign.

Speaking to Chris Lynch, Peters dismissed criticism from Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters, who accused the Government of being too quiet over breaches of international law.

In a foreign policy speech on Wednesday, Walters said New Zealand risked losing its reputation as an honest broker and argued there were circumstances where quiet diplomacy had to give way to what she called “moral clarity”. Labour has also committed to recognising a Palestinian state, imposing economic sanctions on Israel and supporting South Africa’s case before the International Court of Justice.

Peters rejected her criticism.

“No, I don’t,” he said when asked whether he accepted New Zealand’s international reputation had been damaged.

He questioned Walters’ foreign policy experience and defended the Government’s diplomatic approach, particularly its engagement with Pacific and Middle Eastern countries.

On Palestine, Peters said New Zealand First continued to support a two state solution, but maintained recognition should come when there was a functioning Palestinian state to recognise.

“I’ve talked to nearly all the major leading Islamic countries, and they understand our proposition,” he said.

The interview then turned to Te Pāti Māori’s newly announced Mana Takatāpui policy.

The party has proposed spending $200 million over three years and establishing an independent Takatāpui governed Commission to oversee funding covering healthcare, mental health, housing, safety, education and culture. Peters ruled out New Zealand First supporting such a commission.

“Most definitely not.” He argued public services should not be separated according to identity and accused Te Pāti Māori of pursuing what he described as a politics of grievance.

Peters was also asked about New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft’s bill defining women and men according to biological sex, and criticism from Te Pāti Māori co leader Rawiri Waititi.

He responded with a broader attack on Te Pāti Māori MPs, accusing them of prioritising political performance over parliamentary scrutiny.

The conversation also covered New Zealand First’s recently released health policy, which proposes shifting more attention towards prevention, nutrition, metabolic health and lifestyle factors.

The policy includes a review of dietary guidelines, greater nutrition education, health coaches in primary care and research into several nutritional interventions.

Peters said New Zealand was facing a growing burden from chronic disease and obesity and argued considerably more attention needed to be given to preventing illness.

“We’ve got paying billions and billions of dollars out in the health system, dealing with rising problems, and no examination of why we’ve got so many rising problems,” he said.

“We’re going to examine what’s going on here, and look at the fundamental things like diet and the right treatments and healthy living, and also exercise.”

New Zealand First launched the policy on September 20 under the banner “Make NZ Healthy”, saying it wanted to move the health system towards preventing illness rather than concentrating overwhelmingly on treatment.

Asked what voters were raising with him as the election campaign intensified, Peters said household finances were dominating conversations.

“It’s the cost of living. It’s the cost of power. It’s the cost of energy.”

He said voters were looking for confidence that their circumstances could improve and were concerned about the prospects facing their children and grandchildren.

Peters also predicted Te Pāti Māori would face electoral pressure, while criticising the prospect of Labour having to negotiate with several parties to form a government.

He finished the interview on a lighter subject, revealing he had checked the index of Nicky Hager’s latest book to see whether he appeared.

He did not.

“I’m delighted,” Peters said.