Introduction

Good afternoon.

You may have noticed there was a slight distraction that happened in a flurry in Wellington earlier this week.

As already stated – after days of speculation and guesswork, it ultimately boiled down to quote Shakespeare ‘much ado about nothing’.

That is not to brush-off the seriousness of the issue for National internally, but to highlight the fact that we as a collective government are less than three months away from a pivotal election and our main focus must be the people of New Zealand and our country’s future.

Throughout this week’s distraction, kiwis woke up each day and went to work, some working two or three jobs, still seriously worried about the next pay cheque, or the next rates bill, or the next power and food bill, or how to afford the basics for their family.

It is our collective responsibility as the parties of government to ensure we never lose sight of why we are here and who are the masters in all of this – the people of New Zealand.

All too often, today’s politics has turned into some sort of soap opera, that is seen more as some sort of entertainment and click-bait for media, gotcha politics from the opposition, or personal opinions on things people did or said – which ultimately has no effect on the things that really matter and concern kiwis.

There is little doubt about the reasons why a majority of kiwis have switched off and are disheartened by the direction our political system has been heading for some time.

None of that lessens the basic responsibility that governing parties have.

We should be focussed on what New Zealanders gave us a mandate to do - turning this country around with policies and values that will give our country a better future - focussing on driving down the cost of living, cost of food, cost of power, cost of fuel, turning this economy around - and do it all with stability, experience, and hope. 

This pivotal election is less than three months away and we need to give voters a clear and unified message - that we are going to win and take New Zealand back to being a leading economy again.

 

Kaikoura Electorate

One of the key pieces of infrastructure in this area is Port Marlborough. 

There seems to be a sustained campaign from some quarters that continue to advocate for the Port to be moved to Clifford Bay. 

All this achieves is a massive amount of uncertainty in Picton and Blenheim businesses.

In July this year, as Minister for Rail, I formally announced the project at Port Marlborough to build the needed infrastructure to secure and keep the port at Picton where it should be.

With New Zealand First in government, the port will not move.

Marlborough District and Kaikoura have formally approved head start process to amalgamation. The amalgamation has broad agreement however Ngai Tahu has just proposed following the boundary lines of the failed Labour Party’s “Three Waters”. 

Marlborough and Kaikoura would be cut off by Ngai Tahu takiwa boundary. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the waters come from the heavens and a gift from god, and belongs to every New Zealander regardless of race. 

That’s our policy. 

We are not going to let this issue stop local government decisions about amalgamation.

New Zealand First has a strong record of investing and delivering here in this region - encouraging job creation and much needed regional activity:

• The Stop-bank at Spring Creek – a Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) investment of  over $13 million towards the project – to protect the community in flooding events.
• The Havelock Marina Wharf upgrade and dredging of Havelock channel - over $9 million to the Port Marlborough.
• Grants from RIF to restore local petrol supplies at Elaine Bay in the outer Marlborough Sounds, to support Aquaculture and recreational uses.
• Aquaculture consents extended to 2050 - 60% of this industry is in Marlborough Sounds.
• Investment in the Blue Endeavour NZ King Salmon offshore Salmon Farm located 7km off Cape Lambert. Now operating and production value of $350 million a year as the goal.
• Marlborough Library - funded $11 million from the Provincial Growth Fund.
• Kaikoura Whale Trail - Cycle & Walking trail nearing completion – funded by the Provincial Growth Fund for the technical study and the $18 million shovel ready project.

Ladies and gentlemen, the other politicians talk, but where is the action?

New Zealand First has a consistent history of investing in our regions to create jobs, infrastructure, and productivity.

 

Experience Matters

New Zealand First started our long campaign in March this year and have been packing the halls around the country every week delivering the message to thousands of kiwis that we are focussed on two things – campaigning on the bold policies our country needs for a real change in direction for our country, and the promise to continue to fight for ordinary hard working kiwis against the establishment, elitist, status quo.

Experience and leadership has never mattered more.

Now is not the time for weak leadership.

We need leaders of the next government to say the things that people are thinking without fear or favour. 

We need leaders to say the things that might be unpopular.

To say the things that others only talk about behind closed doors, but are too afraid of the backlash from the woke precious snowflakes on the left, or worse, the mainstream media.

We need leaders who are not afraid to be strong on important issues.

We certainly don’t want weak, out of touch leaders, who can’t make the tough decisions this country needs in these uncertain times.

And we don’t need weak leaders to don’t understand New Zealand values.

We can’t continue to allow the two big parties to tinker round the edges of big issues, and do nothing but manage the decline of our country.

We are at a pivotal point in the future of New Zealand.

That is why we have bold policies that will change the direction and thinking of our country.

We have already announced a number of these policies this year.

It is what we need for real change to drive down the cost of living, secure a future for kiwis, and reinforce who we are as New Zealanders.

We have announced policies to break up the power companies monopoly. 

We have announced policies to split the supermarket duopoly.

We have announced polices to re-establish a competitive state-owned bank.

We have announced polices to return mining royalties created in the regions back to the regions.

We have announced establishing a proper transparent inquiry into those who were injured by the Covid 19 vaccine – so we can find out exactly what happened, who was responsible, and publicly hold them to account.

We announced our KiwiSaver policy of making it compulsory with automatic $1000 sign-up at birth. It means the day a baby is born it gets $1000 in its account to start saving.

Our policy is to establish a $100 billion Future Fund that will invest in a thirty-year infrastructure plan for our country.

We have also announced that we will pull out of the Paris Agreement that is senselessly hamstringing our economy. 

New Zealand has one of the loosest electoral laws in the world, and that is why we have announced a policy to ensure that only citizens are allowed to vote in our country. 

At our Campaign Launch, we announced a policy to invest $1billion to start exploring our gas and oil reserves in our deep-sea basins so we can own and export our own oil and gas.

Here we are wrestling with an international fuel crisis while we could be owning and using our own.

New Zealand has natural resources that are there, ready to be utilised to transform our country.

This is about New Zealand’s economic sovereignty and security,

We can’t continue serving international interests and decision making.

We will find those energy reserves, we will extract them, and what we find, we will use to make our country prosperous again.

And we also have announced the ‘Kiwi Kids Grant’ that will support New Zealand citizens raising their first three children, through the first three years of their lives - $5000 per child for each of the three years.

New Zealand needs to start viewing our citizenship as most other countries around the world do – as a privilege that comes with special and unique rights and identity. 

This does not take away from the ability for migrants looking to move here, contribute, and help build our country from showing total commitment and patriotism for NZ by becoming a citizen. 

Even the most basic of privileges and rights in any country like voting has become more like an expectation for anyone, rather than a unique right for New Zealanders.

Why do all the naysayers act shocked and dismayed that a political party is wanting to ensure that citizenship actually means something? 

Our recent policies like voting and Kiwi Kids Grant and citizens only voting, is not anti-anything or anti-anyone. Those policies are showing that we value our citizenship and don’t shy away from wanting special and different rights and privileges to go with it. 

This is about valuing our unique citizenship the way it should be - just like the vast majority of other countries do around the world. 

We have more of such policies to come that will truly change the direction and thinking of our country.

And what have the other parties announced as policies so far? More taxes, more spending, solar panels and free bus rides.

 

The Left’s Wasteful Policies and Empty Promises

The election is 84 days away, and we are already seeing the other parties reverting to type, as they always do at election time, with no direction, no plan, and no real policy, that will give New Zealand the change that we need.

There is a difference in this election, that we haven’t seen in a long time. 

Kiwis are looking at what parties are offering as their values and principles in these uncertain times.

There will be the inevitable policies and promises made, and they are important, but kiwis are looking to a party that stands with them in their core values - that will change the current pathway we are on as a country.

New Zealanders gave us a mandate to turn this country around after the Labour Party wasteful spend-up, achieved nothing, and put people on the go woke, go broke path.

We signed a coalition agreement to govern with stability and experience three years ago - and we keep our word. 

New Zealand First brings what is too often missing in politics - experience and common sense. 

New Zealand First brings a commitment to New Zealand industry, to manufacturing, to jobs right here for our own people. 

It is our policy to break up the power companies, so that we stop seeing business after business closing down and moving offshore, and so that you do not pay outrageous power bills because the retailing arms of the energy companies control the generation of power.

New Zealand First brings commonsense to immigration policy - where we get people we need, not people who need us.

We believe in infrastructure before population growth, not afterwards, and infrastructure focused on fixing what's broken, not flash upgrades and vanity projects.

New Zealand First brings traditional kiwi conservative values - where hard work should be rewarded, where job security and home ownership underpins a stable family life. 

We want a country where young people aren't worried about their family’s future, or where they see better opportunities overseas.

We are the party of social conservatism, patriotism, and nationalism. Those values are what it means to be a kiwi - and New Zealand First is proud to not only stand by those values, but to fight for them.

This is an election where the choice is simple: do you trust a cabal of woke left-wing student politicians from Labour, nutbars from the Greens, separatists from the Māori Party or the globalist socialist consultants from Opportunity to stick up for your family, for your values, for your job, for your country?

Last week, Chris Hipkins shocked the country and held a stand-up with media to announce that he has ruled New Zealand First out.  As you can imagine it took us all by surprise.

Not least, because we had ruled Labour out in 2022, then again twelve months ago, and again every month when answering the same stupid questions from the media.

When Hipkins wasted everyone’s time and ruled us out, we said Hipkins had severe learning difficulties, and we stand by that statement.

But what should be the most concerning for voters, is that he did not rule out working with the Māori Party, and their racist separatist policies to pull our country apart. 

He did not rule out working with the Greens, and their $88 billion debt increase, or their new policy bribe to give $2.4 billion to Marae – without any external checks.

In fact, what did Labour think? They fully supported that policy. 

Did Hipkins rule out working with Opportunity, who want you to pay 1.75% of your land value every year for your home? You already pay local rates, now you will have to pay annual rent to the Government.

For those who do not own a home, what positive is there if ownership becomes a millstone around your neck. We cannot be a nation of renters. We must be a property-owning democracy again.

And what did the leader of TOP say when questioned about an old couple on the pension, who worked hard and saved all their lives, bought a house for their future and their children’s future, who would face a $20k land tax bill every year? She said, yes, they will have to downsize to pay it.

And do you know what that money would be used for? Infrastructure? Health? Education? Fuel security? Food prices? No.

It will be used to give everyone in New Zealand, even if they sit on their derriere with no job, a Universal Basic Income of $19,400 a year – for free, for doing nothing.

The left call this ‘fairness’, we call it communism.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the stark truth. The Labour Party that you once knew, perhaps even supported, is no more.

That party is gone. All of these polices are proof of that.

Can you imagine Helen Clark or Michael Cullen, or Bob Tizard or Peter Frazer signing up to this?

These parties on the left are not people who see New Zealand as one people, one country, one flag, one law, or people who believe in fundamental kiwi values like hard work, ambition, and personal responsibility.

These are people who believe in a separatist society, and who want to borrow, tax, and spend - but have zero economic credentials, or even vision, to deliver growth.

Chris Hipkins and Labour are willing to work with parties like Opportunity, Greens, and the Māori Party because Labour care more about the number of seats that will give them power, rather than the danger of who it is that will sit in those seats.

 

Challenging the Status Quo

The greatest threat to this blind ideology, to social elitism, and to the status quo, is New Zealand First.

We, from the very beginning, stand for one country, one people, one law, one flag, regardless of gender, race, or religion.

And the country we are defending is called New Zealand – it’s in our party’s name.

We have been for protecting our nation’s sovereignty and national interest, protecting our unique role in the world, protecting our nation’s pride in who we are, where we have come from, and our traditional Kiwi values.

We fight for the hardworking blue-collar Kiwi battler, who just wants the chance to help build a country they are proud of.

We have always been, and always will be, for common sense.

Thirty-three years ago we created this party with a vision. A vision of hope for every New Zealander for the chance of a better future for our children and grandchildren.

Our country is not just a place, it is who we are as people. 

In this election, we have a rare chance to change the shape of parliament for the better, and in doing so, to reshape our country the way you want it.

We are asking you to make a choice with our future generations in mind.

Take back control from the Wellington Bluesky bubble, 

take back control from the ‘way it’s always been’, 

take back control from those who choose to be CV politicians, where they are here one day, run out of gas, and are gone the next – taking with them a rolodex of international job opportunities, speaking circuits, or book tours, looking back over their shoulder at New Zealand’s decline - which they were critically caused. 

New Zealand First, from our launch thirty-three years ago, has been battling that elitist status quo. No one can deny that. On issue after issue that needed public exposure, the rest remain silent – the latest being the Covid Inquiry disgrace. When others wouldn’t raise a finger, we have raised the roof.

In November we have the real chance to show the power of MMP. We can move away from what our system used to be, and make a real change to how our country is governed.

 

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, we are all here because we love our country, and we are proud of it.

True democracy is a rare flower in the history of humanity.

We have inherited a free country that our forebears fought and died for, and it’s our job to preserve it.

But only if we are proud of what we have inherited can we come together and move forward to shape the vision of our country’s future.

We live in a country that, at its core, traditional New Zealand values once saw us amongst the world’s leaders – hard work, fair pay, valuing our citizenship, building a sense of community, and knowing who we are as kiwis.

We must remember, New Zealand is the beneficiary of Western values, democracy, and the rule of law. And the advancement and enhancement of those principles have only occurred in those societies that have united together as one people - and who celebrate their nationhood instead of perpetuating division.

There is a lot of uncertainty around the world and at home, but we must keep hope alive that, with hard work and perseverance, tomorrow will be better.

New Zealand First is nationalist, patriotic, and socially conservative.

We are proud to not only stand for those values, but to fight for them. 

It hasn’t been easy - but things in life worth doing - are never easy. 

We must never forget that challenge.

We must never stop believing in New Zealand.

That is our vision and that is our mission.

To protect, to save, and to restore New Zealand’s place at the top of the world.

By putting New Zealand and New Zealanders first.

We are asking you to join us - and Party Vote New Zealand First.