Letter to the Prime Minister re: Winston Peters use of an antisemitic dogwhistle

Sunday, 25 January 2026

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister
VIA EMAIL

Tēnā koe Prime Minister Luxon,

I write to you regarding a matter of serious concern: the use of coded antisemitic language by your Foreign Minister, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, in public commentary on international institutions.

On 23 January 2025, Mr Peters posted on X (formerly Twitter) criticism of the World Health Organisation, describing it as composed of "unelected globalist bureaucrats". While ostensibly about institutional accountability, the term "globalist" has a well-documented history as an antisemitic dog whistle—a coded reference to antisemitic conspiracy theories about supposed Jewish control of international finance and governance.

The Problem with "Globalist"

The Anti-Defamation League, the Community Security Trust, and other antisemitism monitoring organisations have repeatedly identified "globalist" as a term weaponised to evoke antisemitic tropes without explicit reference to Jewish people. Its use allows speakers to signal antisemitic ideas while maintaining plausible deniability. This coded language:

• Invokes longstanding conspiracy theories about shadowy transnational elites;
• Echoes rhetoric historically used to scapegoat Jewish communities;
• Creates a climate where antisemitism can flourish under the guise of legitimate political critique.

Whether or not Mr Peters intended antisemitic connotations, the impact remains: such language normalises harmful stereotypes and emboldens those who traffic in conspiracy theories and hate.

Why This Matters for New Zealand

New Zealand is a signatory to international human rights instruments that oblige us to combat racism and antisemitism. Rights Aotearoa considers that antisemitism can manifest through coded language and conspiracy theories about Jewish power.

When a senior minister—particularly one responsible for foreign affairs—uses such language, it:

• Undermines New Zealand's credibility on human rights internationally;
• Signals tolerance for rhetoric that marginalises Jewish New Zealanders and other minorities;
• Provides cover for extremist movements that use similar language with explicitly hateful intent.

What We Ask of You

As Prime Minister, you have a responsibility to ensure your Government upholds the values of dignity, inclusion, and respect that underpin our democracy. I therefore call on you to:

1. Publicly admonish Mr Peters for his use of antisemitic dog-whistle language;
2. Clarify that such rhetoric has no place in Government communications or policy discourse;
3. Reaffirm your Government's commitment to combating antisemitism in all its forms, including coded language.

This is not about stifling legitimate policy debate over international institutions. It is about ensuring that debate occurs without recourse to language steeped in hatred and conspiracy.

The stakes are too high, and the lessons of history too clear, to allow such rhetoric to pass without consequence.

Nāku noa, nā 

Paul Thistoll
Chief Executive
Rights Aotearoa

paul@rightsaotearoa.nz