NZ's door open to foreigners - Key

John Key arrives with his wife Bronagh at National's northern convention at Waipuna Hotel yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

PM tells delegates friendly immigration policy a point of difference between National and other parties.

Prime Minister John Key laid out the welcome mat for foreigners yesterday and said it was a point of contrast between National and other parties.

"We don't put up the fear factor you see from other political parties about the multicultural society that is emerging in New Zealand," he told more than 300 delegates to National's northern conference at Waipuna Hotel yesterday.

"We welcome tourists that come from overseas; we welcome people that are going to come and study at our schools and universities; we welcome people who want to invest in New Zealand and we welcome people who want to make their home in New Zealand," he said. "And yes, we welcome people who want to buy a home here and raise a family. That's what a multicultural, confident society is about."

New Zealand's future lay in selling things to the rest of the world and the future of the world was about being more connected, he said.

"Do any of us think we are really going to get rich selling things to four and a half million New Zealanders?" Mr Key said.

There was a larger than usual representation of Pacific Island delegates from South Auckland seats and Mr Key made special mention of it.

He referred to the imminent departure of former economic development spokesman Shane Jones from Labour - to take up a position as a Pacific fisheries ambassador for the Government.

"If you look at Labour, they have lost the only guy in their caucus who vaguely even cares about economic growth or prosperity or people getting ahead under their own steam."

He said it was critical in the campaign to demonstrate contrast on offer by political parties and opposition by Labour and the Greens to jobs and growth. "You don't need to take my word for it - take Shane Jones' word for it, because that is exactly what he is saying, that there is no point being economic development minister in a Labour-Greens Government that doesn't believe in economic development."

Despite high polling for National, Mr Key said September's election would not be easy to win. "There is absolutely no room in our party for complacency ... we have to fight for every single one of those votes."

Maurice Williamson did not attend the conference.

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