Profile Text
Birth Name: Wynston Raymond Peters
Place of Birth: Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 11 April, 1945
Ethnicity: * father – Māori, small amount of Irish or Scottish * mother – Scottish, Northern Irish, English
Winston Peters is a New Zealand politician. He has been Leader of New Zealand First, since 18 July, 1993, Minister of Foreign Affairs, since 27 November 2023, and, previously, from 19 October, 2005 to 29 August, 2008, and again, from 26 October, 2017 to 6 November, 2020; Minister for Racing, since 27 November, 2023, and, previously, from 19 October, 2005 to 19 November, 2008, and again, from 26 October, 2017 to 6 November, 2020; and Minister for Rail, since 11 December, 2024. He was also Minister of Māori Affairs, from 2 November, 1990 to 2 October, 1991, Treasurer of New Zealand, from 16 December, 1996 to 14 August, 1998, and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, from 16 December, 1996 to 14 August, 1998, again, from 26 October, 2017 to 6 November, 2020, and again, from 27 November, 2023 to 31 May, 2025; as well as, a Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hunua, from 24 May, 1979 to 28 November, 1981, for Tauranga, then New Zealand First List, cumulatively, from 17 July, 1984 to 3 October, 2008, for New Zealand First List, then Northland, then New Zealand First List, cumulatively, from 26 November, 2011 to 17 October, 2020, and for New Zealand First List, since 14 October 2023.
His father, Kihirini (baptized Leonard) “Len” Peters, was of almost entirely Māori descent. His mother, Joan Merle (McInnes), was of Scottish, Northern Irish, and English descent. Winston is married to Louise Amy, with whom he has two children.
Winston’s paternal grandfather was Te Rahui Kawhena Pita/Peters (the son of Pitatunua/Hapupo Pita Tunua and Taapapa/Tapapa Tunua Rahui). Te Rahui was born in Whananaki, Whangarei. Pitatunua was the son of Kaitaka and Te Riwhara. Tapapa was the daughter of Hirina Poihakena.
Winston’s paternal grandmother was Riperata Pita Maki/Mackie (the daughter of Hoori/Hōri Eruera Maki/Mackie and Mata Kahuitara Pirihi). Hoori was the son of Eruera/Eruena Pukekawa Maki/Mackie, whose father was Irish or Scottish and whose mother was Māori; and of Mihi Watara/Mihiwaatara Tāwhiao Te Wherowhero, whose father was Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the first Māori King. Winston’s great-grandmother Mata was the daughter of Wiki Te Pirihi and Tauhou Aoripo.
Winston’s maternal grandfather was Hugh Alexander McInnes (the son of Roderick McInnes and Mary McLeod). Hugh was born in New Zealand. Roderick was born on Isle of Skye, Scotland, the son of John McInnes and Mary McLeod. Winston’s great-grandmother Mary was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, the daughter of Scottish parents, Alexander McLeod/MacLeod, from Sutherland, and Mary McLeod/MacLeod, from Assynt, Sutherland.
Winston’s maternal grandmother was Frances Jane Davison (the daughter of Thomas Davison and Mary/Eliza Organ). Frances was born in Thames, New Zealand. Thomas was a Northern Irish emigrant, from Dromara, County Down, and was the son of James Davison and Elizabeth Hill. Mary was the daughter of English emigrants, Richard Organ, of King’s Stanley, Gloucestershire, and Frances Davis, of Portsea, Hampshire.
Sources: Genealogy of Winston Peters – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Winston’s father – https://www.geni.com