Winston Peters ordered to pay costs after attempt to overturn failed superannuation leak privacy court case

NZ First leader Winston Peters.
NZ First leader Winston Peters. Photo credit: Getty

Winston Peters has been ordered to pay towards the costs of his attempt to overturn his failed superannuation leak privacy court case. 

The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Monday, which says Peters "must pay the respondents one set of costs", and that the appeal has been dismissed. 

The NZ First leader was ordered to pay nearly $320,000 in costs last year, after he failed to pin the privacy breach on top civil servants and retiring National Party MPs.

He took a number of Government officials and politicians to court in November 2019 over the leaking to media of details about his superannuation overpayment before the 2017 election.

The former Deputy Prime Minister tried to overturn the ruling, arguing the Ministry of Social Development boss at the time breached his privacy by alerting a National Party minister under the no-surprises policy.

His case for appeal hinged on whether the court agreed that personal details shouldn't be shared under that no-surprises policy, unless there was suspicion of fraud. 

But Peters' attempt to overturn the ruling has failed.