New Zealand First will campaign on establishing a Special Economic Zone at Marsden Point to "provide relief" from planning regulations and the RMA in the area.
By Lillian Hanly of RNZ
Tax and investment incentives and reduced company taxes would also be considered by the party for the zone, as part of a wider strategy to produce more goods and services for export.
Winston Peters made the announcement as part of a speech in Whangārei on Sunday afternoon, in which former Labour MP and former Far North deputy mayor Dover Samuels was in attendance.
Peters was introduced by New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft as a leader who had "put the steel in the backbone of this Government."
The party hosted a public meeting there, something it calls a "rarity".
"Other political parties have such a disconnect with the public they no longer hold political public meetings anymore," Peters told the crowd.
He asked when National and Labour had last held public meetings in Whangārei, or when National had last held one in Blackball.
He also discussed various points of government intervention – or lack thereof – in the region, saying New Zealand First's record was one of action.
"Who helped you? New Zealand First, that's true, right?" Peters asked the crowd.
"Whangārei, in New Zealand First's view, is a gateway to Northland and its many attractions, should be 'no more a Cinderella City'.
"Whangārei needs to come alive again."
He explained the proposed party policy, saying a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) can have varied policies, but include tax breaks, wage subsidies, reduced regulation, and investment in physical, transport or communications infrastructure.
The SEZ at Marsden Point would include the former refinery and Northport and be focussed on energy generation/distribution and maritime activities.
Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones is investigating reopening the Marsden Point oil refinery. (Source: 1News)
Industries in that economic zone would not have to deal with local/ regional councils, DOC or other agencies, he said.
Instead, Peters said, planning rules and RMA consents would be "determined quickly by a government panel".
"This expert panel would make decisions based on whether the changes will grow the economy and achieve the aims of the zone."
Other "relief options" the party was considering were changes to the Overseas Investment Act to "make it easier for quality foreign investment in the zone to occur while at the same time protecting our national interest and ownership."
Tax incentives would also be considered, such as rates rebates, foregoing various levies, investment incentives and reduced company taxes for specific investments.
"It will unlock this province's potential and its main resource, which is the biggest resource in this country when it comes to transport, the only deep port in the country."
He also announced former Mayor of Whangārei Vince Cocurullo as the New Zealand First candidate for Whangarei, and sitting MP Jenny Marcroft as the New Zealand First candidate again for the neighbouring electorate, Kaipara ki Mahurangi.
He reiterated the party's plan to buy back the Bank of New Zealand, now NAB, and plans to "break up" the power companies and "supermarket duopoly".
"They are bold policies.
"But bold policies are needed to create a fair playing field in the power, food, and banking systems so we can make real change to kiwis lives, force the cost of living down, give kiwis a fair go, and take back control of our country and our future."
He then spent a significant proportion of the speech on the India Free Trade deal, which New Zealand First opposes. He called out the National, Act, and Labour parties for signing up to what he called a "Free Migration Deal, not a Free Trade Deal".
The agreement means Indian exports will have 100% duty-free access to the NZ market. (Source: 1News)
"No free trade deal in the history of New Zealand has included immigration as a condition. Never. So why has National, Act, and Labour allowed this to occur?"
Peters discussed his concerns about New Zealand acting as a "temporary bolthole" for many "opportunitists" seeking to move to other countries.
"As a leaping off entry point to other countries. Particularly Australia," he said.
"So much so that last year the majority of New Zealand Citizens who have moved to Australia were not born in New Zealand."
He also called the New Zealand First Member's Bill seeking to legally define the terms 'man' and 'woman', which passed its first reading in the House last week, a "win for common sense".
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