Statement from Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader

New Zealand First says Fairfax reporter Tracey Watkins latest diatribe on events in Parliament today is a disgraceful piece of journalism.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says tributes to three dead soldiers occurred in Parliament but business had then moved on to Question Time.

"To suggest what happened in Question Time reflects on their memory is totally irresponsible but not untypical of this reporter.

"My sentiments and that of New Zealand First were earlier expressed in Parliament by Andrew Williams MP."

Mr Peters last Friday attended the Gisborne Vietnam commemoration then caught the first plane out at 7am the next morning to attend the Puhinui Garden’s memorial

commemoration for the 37 New Zealand soldiers who died while serving in Vietnam.

He then spoke at the Manurewa RSA later that day on the treatment of Vietnam Veterans upon their return to New Zealand.

"I did not see Tracey Watkins at any of these events," says Mr Peters.