A new political party looking to generate better returns for New Zealand's producers and exporters by reducing regulation and the exchange rate, will host its first formal meeting at the weekend.
Formed in August, the New Zealand Rural Party will meet in Okaihau, Northland on Saturday.
Co-founder Ken Rintoul says people from many different sectors will be standing for the board.
He says the party has attracted around 250 members over the past four months and is about half way to reaching the 500 needed to become a registered political party.
He says it has also become clear that its policies on helping New Zealand's exporters and manufacturers have struck a chord with far more than just rural communities and the party's name may well have to change.