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Leader's Letter
July 2004
Leader's Report
Rt Hon Winston Peters
 A recent NBR poll showed that New Zealand First was the preferred coalition partner of both Labour and National supporters. This poll confirmed what we already knew - that New Zealand First is the insurance policy of New Zealand politics and the public recognises this.
Unlike other parties we do not do coalition deals before elections. We wait for the voters to decide and we won't be changing our independent position. Remember that Helen Clark said she did not want a bar of New Zealand First before the last election. Now she is happy to seek our support when the crunch comes over crucial issues.
We are always willing to assist when it is in the interests of all New Zealanders. Don Brash should also remember this when he starts picking and choosing partners.
We hold a unique place in Parliament. New Zealand First has been able to stand aside from the political wrangling that has been going on. We are secure in our place because we know we will be back after the next election and part of the next government if our supporters wish us to be.
We do not need to publicly take sides with the old parties and nor do we need to fight with other parties because unlike them we do not have an identity crisis. We are a commonsense party committed to working for the best interests of all New Zealanders and to finding solutions that work.
This is why we were able to fix up Labour's seabed and foreshore legislation, while at the same time criticising their performance over issues
Rt Hon Winston Peters
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