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Leader's LetterJune 2006
President’s ReportElectoratesI have had a busy time since my last newsletter. As promised at the convention in Rotorua, I have endeavoured to visit as many electorates as possible. I have visited North Shore, Manurewa, Pakuranga, Port Waikato, Blenheim (over night), Palmerston North (in conjunction with Rangitikei), Bay of Plenty, Tauranga, Taupo, Hamilton East, Clevedon, Dunedin South and Waimakariri. I am about to attend meetings at Whangarei, Wairarapa and New Plymouth. For the rest of the year I intend to focus on the many Auckland Electorates. I was very pleased with the attendances. I believe that it is just as important to encourage electorates with 7 or 8 members on the committee as it is to encourage an electorate with 35 members on the committee. In fact, those with smaller numbers must be even more congratulated and more encouraged because I do not wish to see electorates disappearing, once they do they are so hard to start again. The BoardThere have been some changes on the board. Our new secretary is Edwin Perry, the former MP. Edwin has very kindly stepped into the breach and has already signed documents as required by the Electoral and is being ably assisted by the Wairarapa electorate members. Edwin Perry can be contacted at: 24 Willow Park Drive Charles Sturt has resigned from the position of Vice President. We appreciate his efforts and hope he can continue to make a contribution. Esme Connell (Whangarei) and George Groombridge (Wairarapa) have been coopted to the board. President’s RoleWe are entering into a new phase for New Zealand First. I have been making the point that I am the President of the New Zealand First Party, which is a position that is different from the Parliamentary wing. My role is with the party membership. Apart from organisational responsibilities the presidency carries with it an advocacy role. My aim is to ensure that members’ views are not only heard and passed on, but where ever possible acted upon. Clearly the party’s remit process provides for policy input – and I urge you to use this process to ensure that your views are considered at the electorate level, and, with the support of your electorate, at the party’s annual convention. Convention – Young NZ FirstThe Convention (Annual General Meeting) is taking place in Takapuna in North Shore City on the 14th and 15th of October. We anticipate finishing by early in the afternoon on the Sunday so that people can return home comfortably. We are considering many issues for the AGM and in particular a constitutional amendment for the creation of a young New Zealand First. More details will follow. CompetitionI have been indicating to some of the electorates that I have visited that I am running a competition amongst our members for them to summarise in 20 WORDS the answer to the following question: “Why should I vote for New Zealand First?” I have limited the answer to 20 words because this is about the amount of time you get to speak to someone on a doorstep when you are cold canvassing, or perhaps speaking to them on a telephone cold canvassing call, before they decide whether they are interested. We have to catch their attention within this time and then hopefully continue with the message. If the news media is not prepared to be constructive and give us any time then we must go to the people ourselves. Please let me have your responses at dmerjfam@xtra. co.nz or P O Box 122 Kumeu. My fax number is (09) 412 7072. I intend to publish the best responses. There are some modest prizes. Dail Jones QSO
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