The party is not standing candidates in the Napier, Tukituki or Ikaroa Rawhiti electorates, but has put up experienced politician and former MP Ron Mark in Wairarapa.
"This is a tipping-point election. We want control of our resources and we are going to shut down foreign ownership of our land and our housing," Mr Peters said.
New Zealand First believed proposed local body amalgamation in the Hawke's Bay was a "real concern" if local communities did not get a say.
"The issue should be decided by you in Napier. What you want should be what the decision is - not have it imposed by the politically appointed local government body in Wellington [who] come up here, try to flimflam some Hawke's Bay folks and tell you you can't do a thing about it. It's called democracy and democracy is still important."
He reiterated the party's policy to reopen the mothballed Napier-Gisborne rail line. The estimated $6 million cost of doing so was just a tenth of what the Novopay debacle had cost the Government, he said. "It should be fixed up and it will be important for the future, and it can be."
Asked if there was anything he could do about the high cost of air travel out of Hawke's Bay, Mr Peters agreed travellers were disadvantaged by Air New Zealand's monopoly on routes out of the region and said he would be interested in a deal on off-peak fares with the national carrier.
"I can't guarantee to put you on a plane free with a Gold Card but I can address the problem - they could actually do a far better deal. Better a 40 or 50 per cent fee than nobody being in the seat."
After the meeting Mr Peters told Hawke's Bay Today it was disappointing the party was not able to muster candidates in the Napier and Tukituki seats for this election.
"You're always looking around for people who've got the time, resources and the experience to do the job and although we come here a lot and campaign here a lot we just didn't get the rising numbers that we thought. That doesn't mean there's not an interest here as you've seen from today's meetings."
He said the case of Rotorua teacher and economist Fletcher Tabuteau, who was named in fourth spot on the party's list yesterday, showed New Zealand First could have a strong regional voice.
He is now assured of a seat in Parliament if the party passes the 5 per cent threshold.