Nats ‘too slow’ on big issues

Being seen as too slow to act on issues such as housing and water quality was a factor behind National’s 2017 election loss according to party leader Simon Bridges, after some of those at a standing room only public meeting in Kerikeri last week asked him what lessons the party had taken from the election.

They also wanted to know the party’s plans for finding new coalition partners.

Mr Bridges said the previous government had successfully steered the country through the Global Financial Crisis and major earthquakes, while leaving the books in good shape. However, on issues such as housing, the environment, water quality and child poverty, the party had been too slow to act.

“National had really strong plans, but the perception of a lot of New Zealanders is that we did a lot of it too late, 21⁄2 years too late,” he said.

With its former coalition partners out of Parliament or reduced to a single seat, National was giving serious thought to its options for 2020.

They included a Lance O’Sullivan Party, built around the former Kaitaia GP and 2014 New Zealander of the Year, a law and order party, a New Zealand First breakaway, or a “real Green Party, not a watermelon party — green on the outside and red on the inside.”

Another option was a country party representing the interests of rural New Zealand, Mr Bridges jokingly offering the job of leading it to Northland MP Matt King, in a cowboy hat.