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Summarised by Centrist
Winston Peters has praised the United States’ decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization and has openly questioned whether New Zealand should continue funding the global health body.
His comments follow Washington’s formal exit from the WHO, a move that has already had significant financial consequences for the organisation, including budget cuts, programme reductions, and staff layoffs.
“This is what happens when a bunch of unelected globalist bureaucrats are not accountable or responsible with worldwide taxpayers’ money,” the New Zealand First leader wrote in a post on X.
He went on to question whether WHO membership still delivered value, adding that US withdrawal “puts into question the current state of the WHO, its effectiveness, and if our taxpayers’ money is being responsibly spent overseas instead of here at home.”
Peters, who is also Foreign Affairs Minister, posted the remarks from his personal social media account rather than an official ministerial channel, stopping short of announcing any policy change.
The remarks come as the United States formally completes its withdrawal from the WHO, one year after President Donald Trump issued notice via executive order.
The loss of US funding has prompted a rapid restructuring at the WHO. The organisation has cut its senior management team in half, scaled back programmes across multiple regions, and warned it may reduce its workforce by around a quarter by mid-year.
“We have no plans to participate as an observer, and we have no plans of rejoining,” a senior US government health official said.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged Washington to reconsider, warning that the withdrawal could weaken global disease surveillance and international coordination.
