Jason Walls: NZ First goes back to the future during party conference

Immigration, and law and order, are on the top of New Zealand First's priority list for this year's election. Party leader Winston Peters unveiled part of the plan during the party's campaign launch in Auckland today. It includes setting a target of 1,000 new police recruits over the next three years. He also spoke of the need to change immigration policies in the wake of Covid-19. "The end of the crisis is not yet. Our immigration policy needs a fundamental reset." He also took aim at Labour and the Greens. Peter says his party in government has been an accelerator for good ideas and a handbrake for bad ones. "We have used our experience to help the Government through many crises, and avoid a number of pitfalls. "We've used common sense to hold Labour and the Greens to account." NZ Herald political reporter Jason Walls told The Weekend Collective that the people in attendance are passionate about the party. "They were happy to see Winston Peters as well. He had a rockstar entrance. It's not what you would expect from a room of older New Zealanders." Walls says that the new slogan is "Back Your Future", an ironic title as it seems more Back to the Future by retreading the same old points. "When seen Winston Peters and NZ First put immigration in the crosshairs since the formation of the party, and to see it come up today at a time when New Zealand has almost no immigration is unusual but made sense. A new bottom line for any coalition partnerships post-election would see NZ First hold the immigration portfolio. The tough policy stance comes after a weekend spent on "mundane remits", including one around changing the material of brakepads. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.