“It might feel like the country is slogging it up the hill at the moment,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis tells party faithful in Palmerston North on Sunday,
“But we’re gonna get to the top of the hill, and it’s downhill on the other side. And the reason it’s downhill is because the fundamentals in our economy; in our country remain impeccable,” she says.
“In a world that is worried about conflict, where there’s disruption on people’s borders, here we are: a safe, secure country surrounded by ocean.
“In a world where many countries worry about how they’re going to feed themselves. Here we are, abundantly feeding ourselves and millions around the world.
“In a world where many people worry about natural resources and whether they can have the electricity they need. Actually, we’ve got the resources for abundant renewable energy – all we need is to get the red tape out of the way.”
As Willis portrays her vision for a prosperous New Zealand, built on its natural abundance and strong fundamentals – with more than a little help from its geographic location – protesters gathered outside the city’s convention centre.
“Killing children is a crime. Palestine will never die,” chanted the small , but passionate, crowd.
“Bombing civilians is a crime. Palestine will never die!”
About 50 protesters gathered during Luxon’s speech to the conference, chanting: “Luxon, Luxon you can’t hide. You support genocide.”
The same group that protested during Winston Peters’ State of the Nation event at the same venue in March. And on Sunday, Luxon was forced to leave through the back door into his Crown limo.
But those inside the conference centre had no idea the group had formed beyond the front doors.
They were too busy with their own chanting, prompted by their rockstar prime minister: “One more time …
“Get New Zealand Back on Track!”
The crowd was ready and waiting to lap up the Prime Minister’s praise; to feed off his energy.
Luxon even earned a chuckle for his (now, much used) analogy of Parliament Question Time, calling the Opposition’s approach to question lines “a bit perverse, really”.
“It’s a bit like an arsonist returning to the scene of a fire that they started. And then criticising the fire brigade for the means by which it’s extinguishing the fire.”
He described it as a “surreal experience” before going on to confirm that, yes, he does stand by all his government’s statements and actions.
Marie Hamilton – National Party member for more than a decade, and wife of Hamilton MP Ryan Hamilton – tells Newsroom the vibe among party members has been positive during the past few years.
“There’s a lot of strong unity amongst the group,” she says, adding that the policy that’s really resonated with her so far is the cellphone ban in schools.
Hamilton says she enjoyed hearing Willis, and Social Welfare Minister Louise Upston, talking about the work they are doing.
Willis’ speech centred on her vision for social investment, hammering home the point that spending more money doesn’t necessarily deliver better outcomes.
“I believe that there isn’t a person in this room that doesn’t want better for the vulnerable members of our community. And what I have never been able to abide is the attitude from some of our political opponents that they somehow have the moral high ground on compassion,” she says.
“Compassion should be judged by the results you deliver for people. And we have had six years of a government with abundantly good intentions, wonderfully phrased press releases, and literally billions of dollars spent. And can you really say that has made a difference to our most vulnerable?”
She went on to tease a pre-Budget announcement, saying more money will be spent on disability services. That sits alongside increased spending in healthcare and education.
“Better times are on their way.”
And the party is racing, as quickly as it can, in that direction, Luxon says.
“We were elected to turn the country around.
“We’re not here to manage the status quo. We do not care about the pundits and the commentators and what people say out there. We are focused on what we are here to do,” he says.
Long-time party member John Charlton says as people get to know Luxon, his favorability will continue to climb.
And a focus on repealing, stopping, overturning and cutting during the first six months in power has left less time to focus on a positive vision for the future.
He, too, thinks better times are coming.
But that’s not the message from Labour and the Greens this weekend, with both opposition parties warning things will get worse if this Government stays in power.
Chris Hipkins delivered his vision for 2040 to the party’s regional conference in Auckland on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick delivered their State of the Planet address to a different Auckland audience on Sunday, labelling Government policy as “divisive, stale, cruel and ineffective”.
Both parties painted a picture of the degradation of the importance of Te Tiriti, the natural world and increased inequality, should the coalition remain in power.
Hipkins – annoyed about Luxon’s recent speech for his vision of 200 years since the signing of Te Tiriti, given the coalition’s policies on the Treaty – started his speech there.
As well as Te Tiriti, Hipkins spoke about the climate, building back the public service following the current cuts, and becoming a high-tech hub.
Hipkins ran through a long list of his aspirations for education, health, housing and workers’ rights, achieved in a vastly different way to this Government’s policies.
It follows his values speech, which was delivered to Labour’s caucus earlier in the year.
And while Saturday’s set piece named the specific areas Labour plans to focus on, there were no surprises, and still no policy.
The topic of tax was notably absent, with just one glancing mention, where Hipkins said “mega landlords” will pay their fare share of tax.
Hipkins has been clear that Labour will bring a different tax policy to the 2026 election, but he seems in no hurry to talk about it, likely due to the caucus ructions that will no doubt stem from the conversation.
Meanwhile, the Green Party decided to go ahead with its State of the Planet presentation, while the state of its party is still in disarray.
Marama Davidson says the Greens have always been motivated by “care for other people, for communities, for those with us today and for those who will come after us”.
“We are motivated by every single child who goes to bed hungry tonight,” she says.
“We are motivated by every single adult who isn’t sure how they’ll pay the rent or mortgage next week … we are motivated by every person who sits in the cold …
“Our challenge to the coalition government is to prove that you are motivated by this too.”
New co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick spoke about the importance of grassroots movements and unity.
“We can take power into our own hands and resist their cruelty every step of the way, in turn, reminding ourselves of our collective power to build a new way together,” she says.
“A way of living – dare I say it, a new economy – that supports people and the planet. That puts manaakitanga ahead of relentless greed.”
But the party’s “alternative Budget” speech has been overshadowed by conduct issues with MPs.
The independent investigation into Darleen Tana is ongoing, and Julie Anne Genter is expected to face the privileges committee this week, after her behaviour in the House ahead of parliamentary recess.
The regional conferences are an opportunity for parties – particularly party leaders – to speak directly to their base. And as the National Party wraps up its three regional conferences this weekend, Labour is embarking on its tour of the country.
I guess you can also have compassion for landlords in their struggle to extract tax-free gains, and for certain farmers & fishers in their struggle against fresh water quality standards and sustainable quotas?
This is quite refreshing, to have a news story present just the news, and not have it mostly “opinion” thinly disguised as news as we now get so often in the print and TV media. (A lot of us are quite capable of forming our own opinions.)
This article discusses the speech given by Chris Hipkins at a local conference which was discussing policy (the first of many) and then complains that no policy has been released. This is not an election year and policy can’t be released when it isn’t yet finalised (democracy takes time) and Labour doesn’t know what exactly this current government is yet to do and so what will need to be done in response. For instance, how much will we need to do to mitigate the environment?
Very fair comment. The coalition have been and are, in far too many areas, proceeding with policies without getting advice and thinking through the consequences.