Winston Peters Brushes Off Chumbawamba Controversy
WELLINGTON — New Zealand’s deputy prime minister Winston Peters is unfazed by the backlash surrounding his use of Chumbawamba’s hit song Tubthumping at a recent political rally.
The UK band accused him of “hijacking” the song and sought a “cease and desist” letter from their recording label.
“It seems the media are more interested in the Chumbawamba story than we are. We simply don’t care,” Peters declared.
“There’s no need to ‘cease or desist’,” he wrote on X on Wednesday.
Peters, leader of the right-wing New Zealand First Party, part of the governing coalition, made his entrance to Tubthumping before a controversial speech last weekend.
He closed his speech by referencing the song’s iconic lyrics, stating: “We got knocked down, but we got up again.”
The band objected, citing their lack of support for Peters’ political views and disapproval of him using their song at his rallies.
However, Peters brushed off the criticism, asserting that the song was well-received at their post-election public meeting.
While the band had multiple singles, Peters singled out Tubthumping as Chumbawamba’s major commercial success.
“I’d make a witty reference to another hit song of theirs, but alas, they only had one,” he quipped on X.
Chumbawamba’s former lead singer and co-founder, Dunstan Bruce, revealed that the song was inspired by a diverse community in Leeds, UK.
Bruce condemned Peters’ use of the song for his campaign, denouncing his political views as egregious.
Peters has incorporated Tubthumping into previous rallies, a practice that has irked the band and other right-wing politicians worldwide.
The band typically responds to such instances by issuing a “cease and desist” letter to make clear their ideological differences.
In his speech that ignited the controversy, Peters discussed removing gender and sexuality lessons from schools and emphasized NZ First’s mission to reclaim the country.
He also drew criticism for likening Māori-Crown co-governance to Nazi race-based ideologies, a statement he later claimed was misinterpreted by the media.
New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon disclosed a private conversation with Peters regarding his remarks.
Former PM and Labour leader Chris Hipkins condemned Peters for promoting racism and anti-media sentiments, asserting that Kiwis deserve better leadership.
The BBC reached out to Sony Music Publishing for comment on Peters’ use of the song, but has not received a response.
Peters concluded on X, “If the ‘cease and desist’ letter ever arrives, we’ll be sure to file it in a safe place.”
