Winston Peters defends NZ First ad blaming ''wokeness” for navy ship sinking

By RNZ Pacific reporter Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is defending a party ad blaming the sinking of a navy ship on ‘woke’ BS, but is at odds with his own candidate. Peters says it's "clear as daylight" the captain of the ship was hired through a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program. The ad, posted to social media, shows party candidate and former defense minister Ron Mark saying "woke b...... t of diversity, equity and inclusiveness" had gone "too far" and the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui off the coast of Samoa was "evidence of that". It also comes as the New Zealand First leader has yet again cautioned his supporters against "wasting" their party vote by party voting National at a packed public meeting in Levin, and as National dropped three points in the latest 1News Verian poll, while New Zealand First gained two.

Mark told RNZ on Tuesday afternoon he took offense at suggestions the social media ad was sexist because the vessel was captained by Commander Yvonne Gray, stating she had a "strong defense" and more focus should be put on the "men who made certain decisions". However, speaking to media on Tuesday evening, Winston Peters said it was "clear as daylight" that Gray was hired under a "DEI" program. Asked if he had evidence of that, Peters said "yes". "We are not against the promotion of seriously qualified women — never have been — but in this case, she was not qualified," he said. "To think it was reef examining on autopilot is just appalling and there's no excuse for it. We're against DEI in terms of employment criteria. It's just wrong. " RNZ requested to see the evidence on Tuesday and again on Wednesday. National leader Christopher Luxon said it appeared Mark was trying to "cosplay Pete Hegseth" but did not…