New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is determined to bring the party back to parliament.

In a speech to party faithful in Aukland this afternoon, the former Deputy Prime Minister did not hold back, taking swipes at the Government, the Opposition and the media.

In his first major speech since being booted out of Parliament. Peters made it clear his party is planning a come back.

"We are a phoenix that will again rise as the public wake up to the inexactitude. We are coming back, we are coming back because we believe we can."

But Peters did not say whether he would stay on as party leader during his speech.

NZ Herald deputy political editor Derek Cheng was at the speech, and told the Weekend Collective that there was no discussion of a succession plan. 

“As far as the party is concerned, and as far as all the party members are concerned, Winston is the party, and he will be leading it from now until eternity.”

He says that one concern for those in the room was the ongoing court case related to the New Zealand First Foundation, with concerns it could hold them back from Parliament regardless of how it turns out. 

“One party member referred to it as an albatross around the party’s neck.”

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