Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

11 September 2014

Tauranga Rally
Thursday 11 September, 12pm

Red Square, Tauranga.

Knowing the way forward

An election calls on us all to think about our country.

This is the time to ask – is New Zealand on the right track? Are we as the Prime Minister keeps saying “on the cusp of something great”.

And if we are, why doesn’t the Prime Minister tell us what that something great is.

Surely if the something great is good then he would want to share it with us.

For not telling us what it is suggests that the something great maybe be great but bad.

What future do we want for this great country?

New Zealand First knows where we want to see New Zealand go.

We want a New Zealand which is stable and prosperous.

We want a New Zealand in which all New Zealanders and their families can succeed.

For that to happen a sustainable, growing economy is vital.

If our economy fails to deliver, every other aspiration we have as a country is in jeopardy.

That is why we have a comprehensive economic policy based on a realistic exchange rate to rebalance our economy so the export provinces of this country can for the first time, with a much lower dollar, get a fair go and enjoy much more export wealth.

As you know exports against GDP under National has gone from 33 per cent downwards to now 29 per cent and forecast to fall lower to 26 per cent.

Exporting is a critical element of our nation’s wealth

New Zealand First’s mean we can pay our own way in the world and stop selling our country for foreigners.

National have utterly failed to build a more robust economy over the past six years – they have left a legacy of debt and dependence on a narrow range of commodities.

When National took power in 2008 our government debt was $10 billion it is now $60 billion, forecast to go to $69-70 billion. An increase of 700 per cent.

National’s economic mismanagement has left the country, and you, dangerously vulnerable.

All exporters, including all those valuable businesses around Tauranga, are already struggling with the high dollar.

But with New Zealand First’s policy working for them exporters around the country will get a major boost from having a more realistic exchange rate.

New Zealand First stands for a united and cohesive New Zealand in which every citizens gets the opportunities for a full life.

New Zealand First takes a realistic view – we must never take our social stability and cohesion as a nation for granted.

We must make our diversity a source of strength not division or contention.

That is why we have always argued for a sensible and responsible immigration policy.

That means instead of having the doors wide open New Zealand First will limit the intake of migrants to levels that do not add to unemployment and do not exert a downward pressure on pay and wages.

New Zealand Firsts policies are clear and make common sense.

We will take the skilled migrants we need – not record levels of immigrants.

Massive immigration is why the real average wage has been virtually static for years – half the workforce got no pay increase last year.

If you one of the 140,000 unemployed New Zealanders then our immigration policy will help you get a job.

Many of the record number of new immigrants have been unskilled or older people –this brings no benefit to New Zealand.

By cutting immigration New Zealand First will help housing, the health and education systems and our superannuation.

We will also impose strict controls over foreign ownership in the areas of land, housing and strategic business assets.

That means stopping the losses and buy back our country.

So we will reverse the wholesale sell off of our farms by implementing a buy-back programme using the Cullen Fund and our own KiwiFund scheme.

And we will collect comprehensive information on foreign ownership of land for the first time in New Zealand.

In this campaign, New Zealand First has three great advantages over other parties.

1. We have a comprehensive platform of common sense policies that will make New Zealand a better place to live, work and raise a family.

2. We have the commitment, enthusiasm, the energy and the loyalty of our Party members and supporters throughout New Zealand. What we are seeing is a surge of support for New Zealand First, and our opponents know it.

3. We have a first class, talented team of candidates who are going to make it into parliament.

We have a great country. Our stand is for New Zealand and New Zealanders.

New Zealand needs to look after the young, the worker and the business wanting a fair deal, and those older who want to retire with dignity and grace.

New Zealand First has policies to rebuild our economy and environment so that it serves these people, our people, not foreign banks, not foreign interests, and not those who are their handmaidens and cronies.

You will read and hear many promises in this election, but New Zealand First’s policies go to the very heart of our country’s recovery and to future prosperity.

New Zealand First offers:

· Common sense on immigration

· Common sense on foreign ownership

· Common sense on maintaining New Zealand Super

· Common sense on tax by taking GST off Your Food and Rates

In this election, you now have the chance to rebuild the New Zealand you want.

A future that works for all New Zealanders.

Only New Zealand First can fix this.

And you can help by giving your party vote to New Zealand First.

It’s common sense.

ENDS

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