Rightist Maori Leads In New Zealand Peters Wants To Block Influx Of Well-Off Asians Associated Press

With national elections six months away, the leader of a rightist party that wants to keep immigrants out of New Zealand has emerged as the country’s most popular politician.

Winston Peters, an indigenous Maori, could become prime minister if elections this year produce a minority coalition government, as expected. He would be country’s first Maori premier.

Lawyer, legislator, and former Cabinet minister, the charismatic Peters formed the New Zealand First Party four years ago. According to an opinion poll released Friday, his party is in second place and he’s in first - the most popular political figure in the country.

An opinion poll of 750 people nationwide put the ruling National Party in first place. Under the country’s parliamentary voting system, an election held today would see National win 46 of 120 seats in Parliament. NZ First would win 36 seats, the socialist democratic Labor Party would win 26, and the left-wing Alliance, 12.

The poll, conducted last weekend by the respected UMR-Insight group, has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

The most likely coalition would be between NZ First and Labor. And as the most popular politician in the country, Peters could demand the prime minister’s post.

Poll respondents gave him a 54-percent approval rating, compared with 46 percent for Prime Minister Jim Bolger.

Three months ago, NZ First was polling just 8 percent.

But Peters garnered support by attacking immigrants, mainly Asians who he says have been flooding into the country to buy houses in well-to-do suburbs, drive flashy cars and abuse the country’s welfare system.

He also has taken a strong nationalist stand, warning that New Zealand land and resources must not be sold to foreign investors. His rallying-cry: “New Zealanders must be first in their own land.”

Bolger and community leaders denounce what they call his “racist politics.”