Winston Peters Misses Trump Dinner at UN Due to Traffic Chaos

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was unable to attend a presidential reception hosted by Donald Trump on September 26, 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Heavy traffic and street closures around the UN headquarters prevented Peters from reaching the event. Expressing his frustration, he remarked, “I’m rather brassed off about it. I’m sorry about that – but that’s the way life goes.”

This incident marked a repeat of a similar experience last year, as Peters was also thwarted by roadblocks preventing his attendance at Trump’s reception. Streets surrounding the UN are often congested and subject to closures, particularly during significant international gatherings. Other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, also faced disruptions, with Macron filmed making phone calls from behind barricades to accommodate the US presidential motorcade.

Peters lamented the chaotic traffic situation, describing it as “an awful place” to be. Had he anticipated the delays, he suggested he would have made alternative arrangements. “In this business, being in this country, way out in the southwest Pacific called New Zealand, you take every chance you possibly get. You don’t blow anything,” he added.

Despite missing the dinner, Peters was active at the UN, attending several bilateral meetings and listening to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak at the fifth annual Crimea Platform Summit. At this summit, he reiterated New Zealand’s stance on international law, stating that the UN Charter prohibits the use of force to alter internationally recognized borders, emphasizing that attempts to annex occupied territories are illegal.

“The reason New Zealand continues to play its part, despite our distance from the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, is that we recognize that a violation of sovereignty anywhere is a violation everywhere,” Peters declared, underscoring the importance of respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty for future international peace and security.

In a follow-up conversation, Peters noted that Zelenskyy had expressed gratitude for the support Ukraine has received from various nations. While acknowledging the limitations of the UN in resolving the conflict, he highlighted its role as a platform for countries to voice their positions, asserting, “There was no doubt in this conflict as to who was in the wrong.”

When asked about the possibility of New Zealand increasing its support for Ukraine, Peters indicated that while the government might consider more practical assistance, deploying troops would require serious deliberation.

Peters also met with Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand as part of his series of bilateral discussions during the leaders’ week. He noted their shared heritage, with Anand hailing from Nova Scotia, the same region as one side of Peters’ family. The two ministers expressed a desire for closer cooperation between their countries, committing to enhance their arrangements and collective efforts.

“Honestly, if you look at the Five Eyes countries, the country that we’ve least dealt with is Canada,” Peters stated, pointing to historical political appointments as a factor in the limited collaboration. He emphasized a need for career experts in diplomatic roles to strengthen ties.

While specific plans for increased cooperation were not detailed, Peters affirmed that New Zealand would seek to enhance its consultations with Canada and explore new collaborative projects. “Countries like Canada and New Zealand need to do more together. We are very, very similar in so many ways.”

Looking ahead, Peters is scheduled to deliver a speech during the general debate on September 30, 2023, where he will articulate New Zealand’s position on the question of Palestinian statehood.