Winston claims 'groundswell of support' for NZ First

Winston Peters. Photo / Mark Mitchell

There is a groundswell of support for New Zealand First and it is a only matter of time before the party is working to steer New Zealand back to its "true course", says leader Winston Peters.

At the party convention in Christchurch this weekend, Mr Peters criticised both National and the previous Labour governments for following the "same half-baked economic theories based on a discredited, free-market ideology".

He singled out foreshore and seabed legislation, concessions made by National over ensuring The Hobbit movies stayed in New Zealand, and the faltering economy, while noting the recent change in direction from Labour.

Mr Peters said Labour was established by trade unionists to improve the lot of ordinary workers, but had drifted away from that core principle.

"Now, in a blinding flash of illumination, Labour have decided they really are a workers' party after all. And they've done almost as much as National to grind ordinary people's faces into the mud of despair."

Mr Peters gave attendees a run-down on New Zealand First's plan to lead the country back to prosperity, and said he expected a bruising 2011 election campaign.

New Zealand First was forced out of Parliament in 2008 after failing to win an electorate or the required 5 per cent of the party vote needed to ensure representation, but Mr Peters said it would go into next year's election in a stronger position.

"Word from around the country is that there is a groundswell of support for New Zealand First," he said.

- NZPA