Prime Minister Bill English has visited Hawke's Bay today to announce the National Party's five-point plan for the country's economy and tax system.
Accompanied by a large entourage of supporters, local candidates and party spokesperson for finance Steven Joyce, he called in to Freshmax near Hastings for a brief tour of the packhouse, including chats and photos with the workers, before announcing National's plan for economic success.
"We are very ambitious for New Zealand and New Zealanders, but to achieve that you need a strong economy and a strong set of government books," he said.
To that end, the plan set out to build surpluses and pay down debt, raise family incomes, invest in public services and infrastructure, keep simplifying taxes and support business confidence.
"There is no need for more taxes - the government has surpluses and there's a growing economy," he said.
"We want to spend to support families and build infrastructure such as the four-lane highway between Napier and Hastings.
"Who would have thought five to six years ago that there would be so much growth in Hawke's Bay.
"We have the confidence that you do that this region can have that kind of growth that warrants large-scale infrastructure."
He took shots at Labour and the Greens proposals for changes in the economic direction of the country in terms of tax changes as well as industrial relations and trade.
"They are pulling back from trade policies that are vital for these products to get into export markets, and their immigration changes could have a big impact on the horticultural industry."
Questioned about his reaction to the planned farmer protest being held in Morrinsville during Labour leader Jacinda Ardern's visit today, he said he believed Labour and the Greens had set out to be divisive, setting rural against urban, particularly around water quality.
"They would do much better to give credit to the farming and horticultural communities, and regional councils, for the intensive work that's gone on in the last five to six years, investing millions to lift water quality."
After his Freshmax visit he was due to stop in to Florian Cafe at Greenmeadows New World and Taradale Production Engineers at Onekawa, before heading off on a cycle ride from Takaro Trails to Westshore Inn.