NZ First conference – Sunday.
I keep walking into the “In Committee” sections of the conference. As a amateur “journalist”, I’m really going to have to start working on that.
Listening to a quite good speech by a 17 year old from Dunedin (must find out his name – Kobe?). It sounds like he has been reading our site. But it is heavily scripted and rehearsed. None the less pretty impressive. Winston in a standup said that NZ First hadn’t been involved in writing it. He isn’t a member – too young?
In the stand up. Winston said that his announcements this afternoon will have monetary policy, tax policy, asset and land sales, and sound economy on issues like dirty dairy. By the sound of it there will be the law and order issues.
Winston really not interested in talking about polls – he just thinks (like me) that they are simply inaccurate. Nor is he interested in talking particularly about other parties. However he does think that they will get more MPs and that is why NZF has been taking quite a lot of care about candidates.
Speech by Winston Peters at 2pm. Starts as traditional with what NZ First has done in the past.
- NZ First is committed to a target of 2% of GDP for R&D. Not interested in picking winners, so not willing to have grants. R&D taxes instead. But don’t cheat otherwise you will spend time in prison. Will also figure how to keep technology in NZ.
- Tax system change to target poverty. Remove GST from the basic foods in the household budget. Cost ~$3 billion per year. Paid by cutting down on tax evasion.
- Remove GST on rates to get rid of a tax on a tax.
- Talking on immigration, youth, and Maori issues. Can’t quite see where he is heading with this apart from reducing separatism which has been NZF policy forever. Having ago about one particular immigrant who John Key didn’t know?
- Will cut immigration, but no particular detail thus far.
- Superannuation to stay as it is. Changes to superannuation, reduce availability to immigrants. Change section 70 for people with overseas pensions to get superannuation.
- Legislation to have a full picture of who owns land and homes for non citizen buyers.Non citizens to have capital gains tax.
- Alcohol or drug addled. Offence to be drunk or drugged on someone else property. Fines up to $2000.
- Regardless of your position on climate change, overseas buyers will be looking. Need a policy unlike National. A progressive phase out of fossil fuels is possible. Policy later.
- Local government, locals have a say on amalgamation.
Looks like he is winding up. Talking about the 21 years of NZ First despite being predicted to be “dog tucker”.
The campaign pitch. Slogan “It’s common sense”