Winston Peters: New office, same message

At NZ First's Kerikeri office opening, Northland Regional councillor and ex-Labour MP Dover Samuels (left), Pacific Economic Development Ambassador and ex-Labour MP Shane Jones, Northland MP Winston Peters and his brother, University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor Maori and former NZ First MP Jim Peters. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Northland MP Winston Peters is vowing to make sure the government keeps its attention firmly focussed on the North.

Mr Peters, the leader of NZ First, formally opened his Kerikeri office on Friday evening with a get-together attended by party MPs and supporters, business people, hapu leaders and even some of his old classmates from Whananaki school.

Mr Peters won the March by-election with a majority of more than 4000 votes, the first time since 1966 National had lost the Northland seat.

He made a dig at National's "remarkable progress" in getting its new office ready in the days after his invitations went out - National opened its Kerikeri Rd office on Thursday, one day earlier - and reiterated his by-election message that the region had been ignored for too long.

"We will make sure that nothing happens of social or economic importance, before Parliament asks 'What does Northland think?' We are sick and tired of being second or third best."

Mr Peters welcomed the opening of National's out-of-Parliament office, saying it showed the party was finally paying attention to Northland.

"We said we were going to get their attention, and we got it."

In particular he intended to draw attention to transport - including the "parlous state" of Northland roads and the need for a rail link to NorthPort - and shifting the Government's economic focus from the consumption-driven cities to the wealth-creating provinces.

No one should feel afraid to approach his office for help, whatever their political persuasion, he said.

Friday's guests included NZ First MPs Pita Paraone and Tracey Martin, hapu leaders Pita Tipene and Nora Rameka, regional councillors Dover Samuels and Joe Carr, and Mr Peters' brothers Ian and Peter. The presence of former Labour MP Shane Jones, now Pacific Economic Development Ambassador, will fuel speculation that he is considering a return to politics some day.

Mr Peters now has offices in Whangarei (shared with list MP Pita Paraone), Warkworth (shared with list MP Tracey Martin) and Kerikeri (the only one so far within the Northland electorate boundaries). Another is planned in Dargaville.

His Kerikeri office is in The Courtyard on Homestead Rd. The opening hours have yet to be set.