Coalition cracks: If you want to insult an elderly politician call them 'confused'

PremiumOpinionOpinion byAudrey YoungSenior Political Correspondent·NZ Herald·1 Jul, 2026 02:58 AM5 mins to readAudrey Young, Senior Political Correspondent at the New Zealand Herald based at Parliament, specialises in writing about politics and power.‌It may have been happy families for the coalition parties on Budget day in May but the inter-party hostility has grown. Photo / Mark Mitchell

If there’s one word calculated to insult an elderly politician, it is “confused”.Which is why you’d think it might be used sparingly against Winston Peters.

Not only has Finance Minister Nicola Willis previously used it to describe Peters, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon this week, too,