There was no big policy announcement from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters today despite promising there would be.
Party leader Winston Peters didn't announce a new policy, despite saying he would be doing so. Photo: RNZ / Jo Moir
Mr Peters spoke to a crowd of about 250 in Christchurch this afternoon - a split between party faithful and interested members of the public - where he laid out the party's achievements over the last two years.
On Saturday Mr Peters was asked if there would be a policy announcement, to which he responded "yes''.
However, the only mention of a potentially new policy was to explore how to get more young women making the "choice for the trades, whether it be carpentry, electrics, engineering or a range of skills hitherto regarded as strictly the preserve of men".
"So instead of filling the deficit with a male from offshore why dont we give a local New Zealand woman a chance,'' he said.
There was a brief disruption at the start of Mr Peters' speech when a group of Extinction Rebellion members came and sat down to listen while another group remained outside with music playing.
Environmental protesters, outside the NZ First conference in Christchurch today. Photo: RNZ
Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent protest group trying to persuade governments globally to act on climate change.
Party members moved quickly to get things under control - it follows a protest from licenced gun owners across the road from the conference yesterday.
The National Party didn't escape Mr Peters' attention in his speech again, today, a lambasting yesterday - Peters told the audience the party had learned nothing from their mistakes in previous decades.
"Unless they change, and we hope they do, a future National facing economic headwinds will embark on austerity policies, condemning New Zealand to more social fall-out.
"We hope they change but the fact is New Zealand First, right now, as a party of the centre, is the National Party, when it had a capital N - when it put New Zealand first,'' he said.
Kiwibank a key asset that needs bolstering
Looking ahead to next year's election Mr Peters said with an "increased share of the vote'' the party will look at some core areas.
They include "seriously bolstering" Kiwibank to increase its competitiveness and help "moderate cost and conduct in the wider banking sector''.
He accused foreign banks of being allowed to gauge the New Zealand market.
Expanding the farming of New Zealand's oceans and suitable marine areas and urgently reforming the Resource Management Act were also mentioned.
"In a second term, New Zealand First will talk to any party that shares our vision for growing the countrys wealth,'' Mr Peters said.