A 29-year-old man has been charged after a window was smashed with a crowbar at Winston Peters' Auckland home late yesterday afternoon.
Police were called to a residential address in St Mary's Bay after a report was received of an unknown person smashing a window at the property shortly before 6pm yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters condemned the attack on X, saying that he wasn't home at the time but his partner and a guest were present.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters told Breakfast a note was put on his door that read "welcome to the real world". (Source: Breakfast)
Glass shattered "all over" Peters' dog in the attack, and a sign was left on the front door, the NZ First leader said.
Auckland City District Commander Superintendent Sunny Patel said afterwards that the alleged offender left prior to the arrival of police.
Winston Peters says 'truly gutless' vandal smashed window at his home - watch on TVNZ+
At about 8pm, a man believed to be responsible for the damage handed himself into police, Patel said this morning.
A 29-year-old man would appear in Auckland District Court on October 10 charged with burglary.
"I know these ongoing occurrences have caused angst and frustration amongst residents," Patel said.
"Police recognise the right to lawful protest, however we will not condone protest action where property is damaged.
"Police continue to urge protestors to remain within the bounds of the law, especially in residential areas."
Peters said last night it was a "truly gutless attack".
Winston Peters says activism has gone too far after a crowbar was used to smash a window. (Source: 1News)
Note read 'welcome to the real world' - Peters
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Peters said he was in a Cabinet meeting when his staff informed him of the incident.
"He climbed on the balustrade and put a notice on the door, and then with his crowbar smashed the window all over the dog, poor thing. We had to vacuum the dog and make sure there were no shards of glass on him, it's just outrageous."
Asked what was written on the note, Peters said: "welcome to the real world".
Peters described protestors as the "worst, gutless, spineless, virtue-signallers I've ever seen, and they’re being supported by members of Parliament”.
He said the "very disturbing" attack was not the first time he had been threatened but was the moment when he realised “the world is not the same anymore”.
"It’s just unbelievable that some people think that that represents a fair go in a country like ours."
"The next thing your worry about it ‘when will it happen again?’ and our job is to make sure it doesn’t happen again."
'Utterly unacceptable' - Labour leader
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the incident was "appalling".
"Politician's homes shouldn't be places of protest. Winston Peters is entitled to feel secure in his own home.
"This is utterly unacceptable and I encourage people to use free speech, but there’s a time and a place for it and political violence is never okay," he said.
Hipkins reiterated that peaceful protest should be "encouraged" and "welcomed in a democracy".
"Anybody who incites political violence, whether they’re on the left or the right, should be condemned for doing so. Violence is not okay."
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a man’s arrested over an attack on Winston Peters’ house, why hundreds of people might need to resit their driving test, and will the ‘Mushroom Murder’ case see duelling appeals? (Source: Breakfast)
Asked if he had felt unsafe in a protest, Hipkins said during Labour's time in power, his government were the ones facing protest.
"We took it very seriously then, and we’ll take it very seriously now," he said.
"Politicians should be allowed to step back from the public limelight as well, and I’d encourage everybody to respect that.”
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