NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones giving a speech at the opening of the party’s convention in Auckland. Photo \/ Adam Pearse<\/p>\n
Jones warned the party would be \u201cchallenged\u201d from all sides, while restating NZ First\u2019s commitment to address the lack of competition in the banking, energy and supermarket sectors. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then we\u2019ve got the other side, who benefit from the economic characteristics, the economic concentration of power and wealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201cbeing propped up by the media\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody knows who they are.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis weekend is about how we as a party can build our country back to the greatness it once had and we\u2019re going to do just that, set out to turn this election result upside down.\u201d<\/p>\n
NZ First leader Winston Peters spoke to the hundreds of members at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau. Photo \/ Adam Pearse <\/p>\n
In last week\u2019s RNZ Reid Research poll, NZ First came in at 11.5%. Peters today claimed: \u201cwe\u2019re doing better in the polls than you think.\u201d<\/p>\n
A focus on the cost of living was central to his comments. Peters also reiterated his opposition to the Government\u2019s free trade deal with India, which would become part of his election campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not going to have New Zealander\u2019s deluded and we\u2019re not selling our country down the drain.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust because there\u2019s a microphone in front of your mouth doesn\u2019t mean you have to answer,\u201d he said while laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve got any doubts, say, \u2018I\u2019ll leave it to the leader, we\u2019ll leave it to the spokesperson, we\u2019ll leave it to the minister\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a large and vocal crowd at the Due Drop Events Centre in South Auckland, giving standing ovations to both Jones and Peters. <\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
There were several faces from the party\u2019s past in the crowd, including former party president Anne Martin who Peters said he was pleasantly surprised to see attending. <\/p>\n
Former NZ First minister Ron Mark was also in the room; it\u2019s understood he has been considering running again for the party. <\/p>\n