National's Simeon Brown discourages members from strategic voting

National's campaign chair says when it comes to coalitions, "sharing isn't caring, sharing is diluting", discouraging members from voting for its government partners.

In a speech to the National party membership, Simeon Brown likened the party's coalition partners to children, calling them a "distraction."

It didn't take long for Winston Peters to hit back, posting on social media that National did not need to worry about New Zealand First, it needed to worry about National, and suggesting the two major parties were more similar than they liked to think.

ACT party leader David Seymour also responded, calling for the coalition partners to collaborate, not squabble.

Brown was laying out the party's campaign strategy at its annual conference in Wellington, which focused largely on attacking Labour and the Greens, while also reminding members National was in competition for the party vote with its coalition partners as well.

He echoed the sentiments from the party president on Saturday, calling on members to "fight for every party vote."

Brown said on Sunday that a Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori cabinet is would be like a nightmare where you're "sprinting away from the monster but your legs won't move".

"A vote for Labour is a vote to gamble with your country's future. Give them the books again, and you will get the same results every time."

He also took a swipe at the Greens who were "so excited" about its policy announcement expected Sunday afternoon, the party released the details online early.

Brown said a party vote for Labour was a vote for "putting the Greens around the Cabinet table".

But he also specifically encouraged the membership not to vote for National's coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First. He likened the two minor parties to children, with National acting as the parents to "keep the peace".

He said it didn't break the household, "but it's just a distraction".

"Energy spent refereeing siblings instead of building the family's future, you know who those two kids are, with Mum and Dad in the middle, finding the time and all the noise to get on and get the job done."

He then went on to say "don't vote ACT or New Zealand First, thinking it helps National. It doesn't."

He said a party vote for those parties only grew those parties: "Neither grows National."

"Here's the simple math: a party vote for National means a stronger place for national and more national members of parliament.

"When it comes to coalitions, sharing isn't caring, sharing is diluting your voice, your values, and your policies."

Peters laughed at Brown's comments likening the party's coalition partners to children, saying National was still "learning on the job" while New Zealand First was the only one which brought real Cabinet experience to the table.

National was in a very serious dilemma as its plans were not resonating with the public, he said.

"The comment over this weekend seems to be one of panic so it's understandable."

Peters had also taken to social media to say his party stood by values of nationalism, conservatism, patriotism and commonsense: "They use them as some sort of punchline."

He said it was "ironic" how a party that enjoyed being in government under New Zealand First's support then turned around and complained about the manner in which it was provided.

"It's comical that the only government party working with Labour right now is the National Party," said Peters, before listing various policies the two major parties agreed on, including the Indian Free Trade Agreement, the social media ban and the gene technology bill.

"As the saying goes, there's not much difference between Pepsi and Coke."

Peters said New Zealand First understood why National was making those comments, "pressure will make you say dumb things."

"National should know that saying irrational and dumb things will be highly concerning for voters who are wanting stability, experience, and unity.

"National doesn't need to worry about NZ First. National needs to worry about National."

David Seymour called on the coalition partners to collaborate, not squabble.

"I was surprised by that from Simeon because we've worked well together to make more medicines available," he said.

"I think people want more of us working together the way we have and less of that kind of bickering."

Seymour told media his priority was to lock Labour out of government and he hoped the coalition parties would all do well in the election.

The Labour Party said the public deserved more than a bickering coalition this election.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said it was a coalition of chaos that had spent the past three years squabbling.

He said New Zealanders were not going to find a strong and stable government in any of the three parties currently in charge.

The speech was followed by a roll call of the party's candidates for the election, where Christopher Luxon, Nicola Willis and Erica Stanford got the biggest cheers.

A list of the candidates in the party conferences booklet showed a few empty slots, with candidates yet to be selected for Remutaka and two Māori seats: Te Tai Hauaauru and Tāmaki Makaurau.