National rallies members at AGM, Labour rises in polls

The National Party says New Zealanders have a "choice" this election, as leader Christopher Luxon rallies members, saying "this weekend is where our campaign begins".

Party president Sylvia Wood says it will be a tight election, and the choice is between a National-led government that would continue growing the economy, or a Labour-led government that would leave New Zealand burdened by inflation and soaring debt.

Labour has overtaken National as the party New Zealanders consider most able to handle the cost of living, according to the latest Ipsos Issues Monitor survey.

The National Party's 90th annual general meeting is taking place in Lower Hutt, Wellington this weekend. Five-hundred members have gathered alongside MPs and staff from the party.

The opening address from a relaxed Luxon acknowledged another event taking place in Wellington - the Super Rugby Pacific final.

He said he wasn't "bitter at all" the Crusaders weren't in the final, saying he considered this year was simply one of "fixing the basics and building our future" for the team - referencing the party's campaign slogan to much laughter.

He also acknowledged the party supporters attending, saying the AGM was an opportunity for members across the country to come together and "discover they're actually in the same fight". This was where the party could recharge and get organised, he said.

Wood echoed the sentiment, saying three things mattered before a tight election - remaining true to National Party values, winning the party vote and outworking the opponents.

Elections were won by people, she said, "one conversation can win a party vote and every party vote matters".

Winning the party vote meant a "strong National-led government", she said, with the mandate to continue the work on "repair and renewal now underway".

A bigger party vote would mean more bargaining power in a potential coalition.

National's deputy leader Nicola Willis later told the audience New Zealand was lucky to have Luxon as prime minister, partly because of his ability to lead the country through a volatile world, but also to lead a government with "some personalities in it".

Those personalities would also be battling for the party vote this election.

New Zealand First has been climbing in the polls, whereas most polls have National steady about 30 percent of the party vote.

The call from Wood on Saturday for the party to "earn the trust" of New Zealanders and to "fight for every party vote" would be just as much about beating the opposition as it is retaining votes against coalition partners.

The party rallied against Labour's track record at the conference, with Education Minister Erica Stanford saying "everything is at risk this election".

Willis said Labour's post-Covid spend up left New Zealanders with an inflation and interest rate "doom loop", a massive "debt mountain" and a structural deficit in the government's books. She referenced again the "hidden bill" she'd pointed to last week of "unfunded promises" by the Labour Party.

"Labour are asking Kiwis to forget about tomorrow and think only of today, and my strong belief is that Kiwis will not fall for it. They are smarter than our political opponents give them credit for."

Willis also used her speech to outline policy wins from the government over the political term, including Resource Management Act reform, a free-trade deal with India and changes in education. She even made a slight dig at the media for the lack of headlines around Gross Domestic Product growth in the March quarter.

"Surprise, surprise, it might be because the news was good," she said.

RNZ reported the economy had a solid start to the year, as the rural sector, manufacturing and tourism growth offset soft construction and mining activity, before the Middle East conflict likely stymied recovery.

She then pointed to the nearly 100 percent of those contributing to KiwiSaver who increased the default contribution rate following the government policy announced last budget.

"Only half a percent of regular contributors have opted out of the increase," Willis said, adding that, unlike Labour's KiwiBuild "fantasy, our reforms are working".

Speaking to RNZ after the speeches, Wood acknowledged it had been a tough 5-6 years, but she was confident the party could do well this election.

"We have so many building blocks in place now", and she said it was a matter of earning New Zealanders' vote.

The cost of living remained the top concern for New Zealanders in the Ipsos Issues Monitor survey and Labour had overtaken National as the party voters considered most able to handle it.

Wood wouldn't comment on the polls, but pointed to the feedback National was getting "on the doorsteps" as "incredibly positive".

The rugby banter continued throughout the afternoon, with "Go the 'Canes" from Willis and "go the Chiefs" from Louise Upston, before Willis said "go National", reminding the room the real contest was in November.