Leader Winston Peters launches Electionlink on July 13, 2023
Venkat Raman
Auckland, July 13, 2023
One of the most important attributes of New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters is that he places the country and its people above politics and even his own career.
A veteran politician and Minister, he is one of a handful of New Zealanders who carry the life-long honorific of Rt Honourable, with recognition by the Privy Council. Since 2000, this title has been reserved for current and past Prime Ministers.
Never known to mince words, Mr Peters has been a vociferous critic of divisive policies, especially that of Co-Governance, Three Waters, special dispensation and other programmes of the Labour government. He considers all of these as regressive, harmful and worst off, polarising and drifting the country away from its chosen past of equity in all walks of life.
New Zealand First has been an active part of the Labour government in recent decades and could return to Parliament after the General Election on October 14, 2023.
This time however Mr Peters will support the National Party in its efforts to form the next government, presumably with the ACT Party.
Labour fails to impress
Since assuming charge on January 25, 2023, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has been trying to assuage public feelings by cancelling many of the policies of his predecessor Jacinda Ardern including Co-Government, TVNZ-merger and the Three Waters Reforms.
But Mr Peters is not impressed.
Speaking at a campaign meeting in Howick, East Auckland recently, he said that Labour may now be furiously trying to put Co-Governance on the backburner but they and sadly too many even in National, still believe in it and that the tenets of Co-Governance are based on a lie.
“They are saying that on February 5, 1840 (the day the Treaty of Waitangi was signed), when no one in the British Empire or indeed Britain was in partnership with the Queen, two days later, on the 7th of February, Maori were. The simple fact is that Maori ceded sovereignty to the Crown because, for years before 1840, they wanted law and order in their country – no matter how much the cultural Marxists want to try and re-write history,” he said.
According to him, in in arguing partnership, they meant 50-50, even though the mass majority who claim to be Maori, and who claim to be speaking on behalf of all Maori, are not even half Maori themselves.
“By the 1975 Electoral Act definition of Maori, that is half Maori or more, they do not even amount to 6% of New Zealand’s population. So, who are they really representing? And which part of their mixed DNA is going to compensate for the other part? Why cannot they answer that question?” Mr Peters said.
He said that New Zealand is a beneficiary of Western values, democracy, and the rule of law.
“The advancement and enhancement of those principles have only occurred in those societies that have united together as one people and who celebrate their nationhood instead of perpetuating division. With cooperation, conciliation, inclusivity and teamwork, our country can make it out of this crisis to a better future for every New Zealander. We can become again the envy of the world,” he said.
The mess around us
Mr Peters is serious when he says that politicians are not masters but servants of the people.
“Too much of our country is in a right mess. That is because the people who are suffering are not the ones who caused the mess. Our once great society was built on hard work and a fair go for everyone. Bold steps are needed to lift our country back to where it belongs. Countries that do well, work well as a team, and everyone has a part to play,” he said.
Mr Peters’ political values are built on national collectivism on a national scale when he declared that his Party would help to rebuild our country for the many, not the few.
“We will reconstruct our economy for every New Zealander, not just a few over-mighty subjects.
That is our vision, that is our commitment, that is our commission,” he said.
Restoring Law and Order
Mr Peters said that the continued safety of our communities rests firmly on the capabilities and resourcing of the New Zealand Police.
“New Zealand First has and continues to advocate for a Police workforce that has the necessary funding, training, and personnel so that our Police can meet the challenges of our growing population and adapt to the many needs of our communities in the modern age. We Commit to recruiting a further 1000 new frontline Police alongside the 2335 new frontline Police whom we have already trained since the last election (2020). We will review the Police pay and conditions with the goal of achieving parity with the Australian Police. We will also ensure that there is staffing available to eliminate the sole-charge Police stations,” he said.
Among the other measures that Mr Peters has promised include (1) Focus on crime prevention and working with the community (2) Adequately resource community policing including Maori and Pasifika wardens, and Neighbourhood Watch (3) Conduct an independent review on arming the Police (4) Provide minimum mandatory prison terms for assaulting Police Officers (5) Double the number of Youth Aid officers (6) Introduce a Youth Justice Demerit Points system to provide structure and early intervention for youth offenders.
“There must be accountability, an offender needs to know there will be consequences but also every opportunity to change their behaviours,” Mr Peters said.
The New Zealand First Party was established on ‘Fifteen Fundamental Principles’ that emphasise accountable and transparent government, commonsense social and economic policy, and placing the interests of our country and its people at the forefront of Government decision-making.
Mr Peters and his Party will contest the ensuing General Election on Principles and Policies, which will surely prompt New Zealand to exercise their franchise appropriately.
