Nats pave road to 2020 poll
The National Party has put a lid on the election, apparently pinpointing its missteps but refusing to reveal them, and its members are doggedly refraining from talking about Winston Peters.
It is the approach out of a twoday caucus retreat that called the entire caucus, party executive and even some MP hopefuls, to take stock of its election loss and strategise for the next three years in Opposition.
Leader Bill English said an ‘‘invigorated’’ team had a ‘‘real commitment’’ to holding the Government to account and focusing on the 2020 election, ‘‘because we believe that this is fundamentally a weak Government’’.
‘‘It’s already showing signs that a very wide range of views encompassed by NZ First, Labour and the Greens are going to make it hard for them to come up with consistent and coherent policy that’s good for New Zealand and outside pressure groups are going to be able to pick off one party or another,’’ he said.
English also conceded the dynamics of National had changed with the change in role. It was a feature of the leadership campaign that put English in charge, when a section of National’s backbench took the opportunity to flex some leverage and make it known to the party’s governing hierarchy they were not content to be left out of discussions on the party’s direction.
‘‘Whereas in Opposition there’s no hierarchy. There’s the leader and deputy leader and then the MPS and we’re putting a premium on open and robust internal processes under which they can all take part.’’
English refused to comment specifically on whether MPS discussed the issue of the party’s relationship with NZ First leader Winston Peters, but suggested that one way to mend bridges would be to work with NZ First and the Greens to get policies over the line where there was a shared interest.
‘‘As you look to 2020, obviously the relationship with other parties comes up. But we’ll work with parties with whom we have a common interest.’’
And despite an unusual break in the party’s ranks that saw the leadership of English and deputy Paula Bennett come into question, a tight display of unity at the Tauranga gathering suggests the party has devised a strict songsheet for 2020.
Despite National holding its position as the most popular party in Government, the party was unable to secure the support of NZ First and it’s understood the relationship between leader Winston Peters and some of National’s senior MPS was at least partly responsible.
Peters has also been embroiled in legal action against some of National’s senior leadership team, including the party’s campaign manager Steven Joyce and Bennett after the leaking of some of his personal pension details.
But a larger problem for National - the lack of a viable rightwing coalition partner - is unlikely to have been resolved in two days.
‘‘You don’t want to jump to August, September, October 2020. We’re in 2017, we’ve just come out of an election and those three parties have formed a coalition that’s got inherent weaknesses in it,’’ said English.
‘‘There are opportunities for common sense and purpose; between us and the Greens and we’ve already got a a piece of legislation in the ballot on the Kermadecs.
‘‘There’ll be certainly other pieces of legislation where we think we can get the support of NZ First.’’
In a break with tradition, present at the secretive caucus meeting were the next five on National’s list: Maureen Pugh, Nicola Willis, Agnes Loheni, Paulo Garcia and David Hiatt.
It was expected some of them would find themselves in Parliament before the term ended, as retirements are eventually announced the party manages a rejuvenation process ahead of 2020.