New Zealand foreign minister’s home attacked by protester

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By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -A man has been charged after a window of the New Zealand Foreign Minister’s home was smashed with a crowbar Monday and a note pinned to his front door that said “welcome to the real world”, the Minister’s spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The glass smashed all over Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ dog, who was sleeping below the window, he added.

Peters has come under pressure from protest groups and opposition parties in recent days after he announced New Zealand would not be following Australia, Britain and Canada in recognizing the state of Palestine. Protests have been held outside his Auckland home.

Peters said in a social media post on X that he was not home but both his partner and a guest were.

“This is truly gutless,” it said. “When we have protesters, political bloggers, and MPs alike encouraging this behaviour, posting politicians’ home addresses online, and acting with pure ignorance and extremism, this is the result.”

“All of New Zealand needs to be deeply concerned,” the post said.

Auckland City District Commander, Superintendent Sunny Patel said that a 29-year-old man who was believed to be responsible for the damage had handed himself in to police on Monday and would appear in court on October 10.

“I know these ongoing occurrences have caused angst and frustration amongst residents. Police recognise the right to lawful protest, however we will not condone protest action where property is damaged,” Patel said in a statement.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington; Editing by Bill Berkrot)