Peters' new position gets conditional approval

Winston Peters has the skills and grace to be New Zealand's foreign minister, but his past comments may come back to bite him, experts say.

Peters' comments on immigrants, in particular Muslims, Asians and our Pacific Island neighbours, may make his new role in Government tougher, and political scientists say his sometimes combative style can prove problematic.

Politics professor at Auckland University Barry Gustafson said there were two sides to Peters - the persistent opposition politician, and the charmer with polish and a sense of humour.

"My problem is Winston likes to say what he thinks," said Professor Gustafson, the acting director of the New Zealand Asia Institute, whereas a foreign minister often has to bite his tongue to sell policies to people he might instinctively cross swords with.

"Winston could find that a little difficult."

Peters also tends to personify an anti-Asian position.

"He's got a problem in Asia. I think he'd have problems in the South Pacific, because he's made no secret of the fact that he feels there's a fair bit of corruption and incompetence in some of our Pacific Island neighbours."

Former New Zealand diplomat Terence O'Brien said making the ministerial post one outside Cabinet risks sending the message that New Zealand doesn't attach much importance to foreign affairs.

"I don't think that would be a good move for New Zealand in a world where the conduct of foreign relations is much more complex. We need to be seen to be doing it well and taking it seriously."

Mr O'Brien, a senior fellow at Victoria University's centre for strategic studies, believed Peters' reputation for meticulousness and attention to details of protocol would stand him in good stead. And he has another plus.

"A Maori, or part-Maori, ... would project the face of New Zealand quite well."

Victoria University political science professor Margaret Clark said if he were perceived as being anti-Asian, that could be a problem for a country wanting to foot it in Asia, "especially for trade matters".

It could just be Prime Minister Helen Clark's way of minimising the possibility of a recurrence of what happened in the National-NZ First Government, she said.

"It would keep him offshore quite a lot."

Diplomacy Winston Peters-style

* On Muslims

"In New Zealand the Muslim community has been quick to show us their more moderate face, but there is a militant underbelly here as well. These two groups, the moderate and militant, fit hand and glove. Underneath it all the agenda is to promote fundamentalist Islam - indeed, these groups are like the mythical hydra, a serpent underbelly with multiple heads, capable of striking at any time and in any direction." - July this year

* On Asian immigration

"Who asked you whether you wanted to Asianise New Zealand by a Napier or a Nelson each year?" - July 2002

* On immigration

"The ultimate destination looks very much like the hotbeds of ethnic and religious conflict - places such as Kosovo, Sri Lanka and Northern Ireland. We are witnessing the Balkanisation of our country." - November 2002

* On immigration again

"We place our country at risk by bringing in thousands of people whose views are formed by alien cultures and rigid religious practices. If immigrants are allowed to settle here, regardless of their ability or willingness to live in harmony with us, we will create a breeding ground for conflict." - August 2002

* On the Crown Forestry Rental Trust

"This is the worst conceivable example of Third World aid. Less than 14c in each dollar reaches the claimant. A black African dictator would be proud of this result." - July 2002