Ryan Bridge: Winston was always going to turn on Luxon

This was always going to happen - the closer you get to the election, the more your friends become your enemies under MMP.

Winston's office released OIA docs showing Luxon's people wanted to go further in supporting Trump's war in Iran.

The Foreign Minister's office and MFAT, in their wisdom, cautioned against it.

For what most of us would probably understand to be good reasons.

This was straight after the war began.

This is a story in the Herald this morning:

A spokesman for Peters said Luxon’s support for the war was “imprudent” and would have “run counter to New Zealand’s national interests”.

“Experience matters in foreign policy.”

Then, last night, there were talks between the PM and Foreign Minster.

Luxon's hitting back - he's saying the emails mischaracterised Luxon's position.

He's saying the release of the emails puts politics ahead of the national interest.

So, as you can see, quite the mess.

The problem here is for Luxon, not for Peters.

Luxon is the one who has struggled to articulate himself on the war.

Peters has not.

Luxon is the one who's support has been falling in the polls.

Peters is the opposite.

Luxon is the one who's been there five minutes.

Peters is not.

If you were to poll kiwis and ask 'who do you trust more on matters of foreign affairs and war?', I imagine after 40 years in Parliament and a few runs at the job, Peters would come out on top.

Trying to put Peters in his place is hard enough to do at the best of times.

Trying to do it with one hand tied behind your back, the crowd cheering for your opponent, on a stage that's unfamiliar to you, is probably not going to end well.

Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.