National Party leader Christopher Luxon speaking at the party's annual conference on 2 August, 2024. Photo: RNZ / Anneke Smith
National Party faithful are relishing last year's election result at their annual general meeting in Auckland today.
Cashed up delegates, who have flown in from all corners of the country, have forked out $350 a ticket for the conference.
A rough head count has attendees at about 480 people, and ticket sales of about $168,000.
The room stood to sing the national anthem before the crowd gave National's caucus a standing ovation as they gathered on stage.
"Our victory last year is a testament to your commitment and to your dedication so can I just say thank you, thank you, thank you for everything that you do for us," National leader Christopher Luxon said.
He lamented the former Labour government's legacy and told the meeting National was getting the country, economy and law and order back on track.
"I've gotta say, this time last year the country was in a mess. Reckless spending, high inflation, interest rates that have gone through the roof, a wave of ram raids, violent crime and a government that frankly puts criminals first and victims last.
"And public services that were falling apart. Schools in decline, a botched health merger and a tidal wave of Kiwis on the jobseeker benefit while businesses were crying out for workers."
Party president Sylvia Wood encouraged members to ask like minded people in their lives, and then friends of friends, to become National Party members.
"We need to work very hard to grow the membership base and I ask for your support, I ask for your buy in. I will drive this. I am absolutely committed to it, as is the board."
A small group of pro-Palestine protesters outside National's annual party conference. Photo: RNZ / Maia Ingoe
National's Finance Minister Nicola Willis talked about the government's tax cuts that kicked in this week and told the crowd spending cuts were not just a Budget exercise.
"On our watch, there may be fewer people wearing lanyards on Lambton Quay, but there are gonna be a lot more people wearing high vis and hard hats and I say bring that on."
There was a strong police presence in and around the Due Drop Events Centre for the conference with at least half a dozen police cars and one police van parked up around the back.
A small group of people gathered on the road outside to protest the government's response to the war in Gaza with signs and flags.
Protester Barry Lee said the group wanted the war to be on the conference agenda, and for Prime Minister Luxon to take a stronger stand on it.
"We want them to think about actually breaking with the United States and making a firm stand supporting the genocide case against Israel, and joining the 143 other countries, out of 190, that recognise the state of Palestine."
Countries like New Zealand were obliged to take action, Lee said.