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Leader's LetterOctober 2004
President’s ReportOur annual Convention in Taupo on the 30th and 31st of October is an event not to be missed by members. Not only is this the last chance for members to influence policy by way of the remit process, or personal discussion with MP’s and senior advisors, but it will also be the first unveiling of broad themes and strategies that will be carefully built on leading to the election campaign in 2005. There is always something very special and exciting about being there at the beginning of a campaign, then watching it unfold as the months roll by. It’s a bit like having a baby and nurturing it through to adulthood! We need to recognise that our Leader and New Zealand First have made significant changes to government outcomes over the years and my colleagues have relayed some of them to you, in this and other issues. This has been done from the opposition benches without the benefit of coalitions with the Government. There is no question that New Zealand First has achieved implementation of a greater projection of its election promises in this fashion than either of the Labour Party’s wimpish coalition partners have of theirs. No mean achievement I can tell you, and something we should reflect on and celebrate, with a sense of pride. Under the old two party system, the opposition party was rarely, if ever, able to achieve anything at all. This is not so now under MMP, and particularly where New Zealand First is concerned. We are continually stressing that it is the number of MPs we have in the Parliament that provides the strength for New Zealand First to achieve our members’ goals. We are not pondering or pontificating on the possible make up of some future coalition as you see the Greens, United, Act, National and Labour currently engaging in. These are the type of fundamental and formative issues that are at the heart of our Conventions. For our members, the opportunity to discuss these issues, face to face, arises only once a year and that is at our Convention. Please be there and involve yourself in this exciting event, which will prove to be the launch of another hugely successful election campaign, building on the significant advances made in 2002. Doug Woolerton MP
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