Winston's spider no joke for NZ First

Winston Peters

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is likely to be the butt of jokes when he returns to Parliament after being bitten on the bottom by a creature thought to be a spider.

It is understood that he broke out in black spots after being bitten in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last week.

It is not known if he is still afflicted by the spots but the New Zealand First leader has been lying low since being discharged from a Brisbane Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

He had stopped off in Brisbane on his way home from an Asean Regional Forum meeting, intending to go to the Bledisloe Cup test. Instead he was admitted to hospital.

Parliament goes into recess tonight for two weeks.

Mr Peters has no overseas trips or significant events scheduled during the recess so may spend the time recuperating.

He is considered a sensitive and prickly politician, especially over matters he considers private.

Some people in New Zealand First had expected Mr Peters' hospitalisation to be kept secret.

It has been made clear to MPs in the Labour Party - which relies on New Zealand First's support in confidence and supply votes - that they are not to make fun of Mr Peters when he returns.

But the corridors and select committee rooms of Parliament have already been abuzz with spider jokes and jibes.

Some wondered whether Mr Peters was capable of being poisoned with spider venom given the excess he sometimes appeared to have in his system.

Others suggested that his next musical turn at a foreign ministers' meeting might see him teaming up with Alexander Downer to sing the Australian country classic The Redback on the Toilet Seat by Slim Newton.