During a public meeting in Warkworth on Sunday afternoon, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced a new policy proposal to restrict voting rights exclusively to New Zealand citizens. Under current laws, legal residents who have lived in the country for a year or more, including those on work or study visas and permanent residents, are eligible to vote in various elections. Peters argued that voting should be a privilege reserved for those who have sworn allegiance to the nation and committed to making New Zealand their permanent home. He criticized the current system, noting that permanent residents can vote in local council elections and referendums after only two years of residency. Peters emphasized that while permanent residence allows individuals to live and work in the country, citizenship represents the formal bond of democratic authority and responsibility.