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Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson has castigated New Zealand First leader Winston Peters after his tense����

The interview became heated at many moments, especially when Tame questioned how much two of Peters’ party’s flagship policies would cost to implement.��

At one point, Peters called Tame a “dirt merchant”, which Jackson claims is ”an insult to the nation and an insult to Jack”.��

“The astonishing abuse Winston Peter’s [sic] gave Jack Tame on TVNZ this morning highlights just how dangerous NZ First could be if they were part of government,” Jackson posted tonight on social media.��

“Jack had an obligation to ask Winston the tough questions, yet all Winston did was smear Jack, smear TVNZ and deny the voter from hearing legitimate questions about Winston’s donations, [due to] his inability to answer any basic questions about his own policy.”��

During this morning’s interview, Tame asked how many prisoners Peters’ new��for gang members would hold.��

But the former Deputy Prime Minister seemed unable to give an answer. Tame pointed out that a prison built to hold 3000 would be the equivalent of three Mount Eden Prisons.��

“How much would that cost?” asked Tame.��

Peters said: “I’m not going to have a fiscal argument when you don’t know what you’re talking about.”��

Tame pushed further for more details, saying, “This is your policy, you have complained in this campaign that people haven’t asked you about policy details.”��

Peters then snapped back with, “We won’t have amateur hour based on what you don’t know, and if you’ll just keep quiet, take a valium, and realise that if Corrections officers don’t know, the Minister of Corrections doesn’t know, how can you know for certain?”��

Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson has slammed Winston Peters for his comments during this morning's interview. Photo / Mark Mitchell��

Jackson claimed Peters’ answers to Tame’s questions proved “the contempt the right have for being held accountable”.��

“Chippy was right to refuse to have anything to do with Winston. Yes, we worked with him in 2017, but that was a different Winston and a different time,” Jackson wrote.��

“This Winston has totally lost the plot.”��

Peters told the��Herald��it was not worth his time responding to Jackson’s post.��

”Willie’s on his way out and he knows it.”��

Jackson also referenced the quote a New Zealand First candidate has been condemned for saying - “Cry if you want to, we don’t care. We are the party with the cultural mandate and the courage to cut out your disease and bury you permanently” - which Peters claimed was about Jackson personally.��

Tame pointed out that the comment was in fact targeted at all Māori. The quote also became a hot topic at this��.��

Late last year, Jackson had to apologise after his conduct during an interview with Tame on the same programme made headlines. During that appearance, Jackson claimed it was “such a negative interview” - while he was the Broadcasting Minister.��

Jackson was asked about Peters’ interview this morning at Labour’s West Auckland rally this afternoon.��

Speaking as Labour’s broadcasting spokesman, Jackson said he believed Peters was out of control and resorted to abusing Tame.��

“Normally he’s controlling the interview, but Jack was all over him.”��

Asked whether he had some sympathy for Peters given his own interactions with Tame, Jackson said he did not.��