10 November, 1999
MEDIA RELEASE
NATIONAL/LABOUR ATTEMPTED TAURANGA DEAL – THE OLD PARTIES RESPONDING TO NZF CROSS BENCHES POSITION
The Rt Hon Winston Peters MP, Leader of New Zealand First, today said that the National/Labour attempt at a deal in his
Tauranga electorate highlights the desperate lengths that both parties will go to try and remove New Zealand First and
Winston Peters from New Zealand Politics.
“This is a direct consequence of my Party’s stand to stay on the Cross Benches and keep the two old parties honest. The
National and Labour Parties want a blank cheque to do what they want regardless of what the public think – while New
Zealand First will ensure that the party in power, whatever party that may be, has a mandate to do only what the public
want.
“And that prospect terrifies National, Labour and their business backers. It terrifies them that we will force the
governing party to amend their legislative programme where necessary to reflect a consensus approach instead of letting
them do what they like regardless of public opposition.
“And I have no doubt that Labour would have signed up to the deal if they thought it would remove New Zealand First from
the political landscape. For both they and National are on record as saying that is what they want. That New Zealand
First having any political influence – in government or outside of it – is the worst case scenario of both of the old
parties,” said Mr Peters.
Mr Peters said that despite their continued claims that they are different, the fact that the National Party Hierarchy
would even propose such a deal, and anticipate a favourable response, highlights how similar the two old parties really
are – especially in their loathing of Winston Peters and New Zealand First and our insistence that Labour and National
be kept honest and share power with the New Zealand People.
ENDS