Hipkins jibes NZ First is now ‘Labour’s Seconds’ after string of former Labour recruits

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has mocked Winston Peters’ recruitment of former Labour politicians, quipping NZ First should be renamed “Labour’s Seconds” after a string of former Labour figures joined the party ahead of the election.

Appearing on Breakfast on Tuesday morning, Hipkins was asked about the growing number of former Labour politicians now aligned with NZ First, including former Cabinet minister Stuart Nash, former minister Dover Samuels and former Labour minister and MP Rino Tirikatene.

“Oh, look, it’s clear Winston Peters has adopted a new recycling strategy when it comes to candidate selections,” Hipkins said.

“I think he’s changed the name of his party. Instead of being New Zealand First, you could call it Labour’s Seconds.”

Breakfast host Tova O’Brien responded: “That’s very good. You’ve been practising that one.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has joked New Zealand First should be renamed “Labour’s Seconds” after the party recruited several former Labour figures, including former Cabinet minister Stuart Nash.

The exchange follows Stuff’s analysis on Monday, which found NZ First has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of this election’s wave of political defections, attracting former MPs, ministers and candidates from Labour, National and other parties.

Among those now aligned with NZ First are former Labour Cabinet minister Stuart Nash, former Labour ministers Dover Samuels and Rino Tirikatene, former National ministers Alfred Ngaro and Harete Hipango-Brownlie, former National MP Michael Laws, and former Vision NZ candidates Bernadette Soares and George Ngatai.

Stuff’s analysis found Labour has seen three former ministers or MPs move to NZ First, while National has lost six former candidates or MPs to other parties, making this election one of the busiest periods of political party switching in recent years.