National's deputy leader has called on party members and MPs to stay united in the face of attacks from the government.
Deputy National Party Leader, Paula Bennett Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Paula Bennett has delivered her speech to kick off the second day of the party conference in Auckland.
She responded to comments made by the acting Prime Minister Winston Peters about National Party 'jackals' rolling her, then coming for leader Simon Bridges.
There was "barely a day" when government MPs and staffers were not running a smear campaign against National in the media, Ms Bennett told the conference.
"Must be pretty worried, eh?"
National's political opponents would try to divide the party, she said.
"They see our unity and it worries them, in fact more than that they can't quite see our unity because they don't recognise it."
It would suit them, she said, to see National MPs turn on each other.
"And they'll keep trying that - we will not let them divide us", Ms Bennett told delegates, thumping for podium for emphasis.
She also described the disappointment at last year's result, and the feeling as part of the leadership they had let the team down.