Bob Carr accuses Winston Peters of defamation after NZ deputy PM calls him a ‘Chinese puppet’

Former NSW premier’s threat to sue comes amid debate about whether New Zealand should join pillar two of Aukus pact

Australia’s former foreign minister and New South Wales premier, Bob Carr, says he intends to sue New Zealand’s deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, for allegations made about Carr’s closeness to China as debate about Aukus ramps up.

Peters called Carr “nothing more than a Chinese puppet” on the national broadcaster RNZ on Thursday morning.