NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones giving a speech at the opening of the party’s convention in Auckland. Photo / Adam Pearse
Jones warned the party would be “challenged” from all sides, while restating NZ First’s commitment to address the lack of competition in the banking, energy and supermarket sectors.
“We are a threat to those people on one side who want to reorder New Zealand society without a mandate, so that it complies with the dictates born of cultural Marxism.
“And then we’ve got the other side, who benefit from the economic characteristics, the economic concentration of power and wealth.”
Leader Winston Peters, who followed Jones, used his opening address to take a swing at other political parties. The Green Party came under fire for mistakes made in policy announcements, while Opportunity was “being propped up by the media”.
“Nobody knows who they are.
“This weekend is about how we as a party can build our country back to the greatness it once had and we’re going to do just that, set out to turn this election result upside down.”
NZ First leader Winston Peters spoke to the hundreds of members at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau. Photo / Adam Pearse
In last week’s RNZ Reid Research poll, NZ First came in at 11.5%. Peters today claimed: “we’re doing better in the polls than you think.”
A focus on the cost of living was central to his comments. Peters also reiterated his opposition to the Government’s free trade deal with India, which would become part of his election campaign.
“We’re not going to have New Zealander’s deluded and we’re not selling our country down the drain.”
As was typical for the start of a NZ First convention, Peters had many jibes for the media, including warning his members about speaking to journalists.
“Just because there’s a microphone in front of your mouth doesn’t mean you have to answer,” he said while laughing.
“If you’ve got any doubts, say, ‘I’ll leave it to the leader, we’ll leave it to the spokesperson, we’ll leave it to the minister’.”
It was a large and vocal crowd at the Due Drop Events Centre in South Auckland, giving standing ovations to both Jones and Peters.
NZ First members gave a standing ovation to both Shane Jones and Winston Peters at the opening of the party’s convention in Auckland. Photo / Adam Pearse
There were several faces from the party’s past in the crowd, including former party president Anne Martin who Peters said he was pleasantly surprised to see attending.
Former NZ First minister Ron Mark was also in the room; it’s understood he has been considering running again for the party.
The Herald revealed today former Labour minister Rino Tirikatene had joined as a member, however he hadn’t yet been seen at the convention.
Another former Labour minister, Dover Samuels, was in attendance as a first-time party delegate.
In a media stand-up, Peters welcomed their addition to the party as “marvelous”.
“It means that people are coming from other political parties and realising it’s one party now that’s critically needed.”
Peters wouldn’t comment on Mark’s future with the party, nor would be say whether he would like to see him back around the Cabinet table.
“If I was to show preference like that, it means that [the party’s] list system doesn’t work, it means that people aren’t treated fairly, so I stay out of it.”
It comes as NZ First has attracted multiple high-profile former politicians, including former Cabinet ministers Stuart Nash and Alfred Ngaro.
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.