New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones has thrown jabs at both his political opponents and allies alike in a public meeting in Kaikōura last week.
The party's senior MPs are on a tour of the country, with more than 30 public speeches scheduled, mostly in smaller towns and provincial cities.
Q+A was there to see Jones use his speech to attack both the Labour Party, which he used to be a member of, and the National Party, with which New Zealand First is currently in coalition.
Speaking about National and Labour’s support for the free trade agreement with India, Jones said, “we are not going to tolerate unfettered immigration.
"And by hell we’re never going to agree with Luxon’s National Party India free trade deal, masquerading as what it really is: an immigration unfettered blockchain type of cheap unwanted migrants out of that part of the world. We’re not having it, end of story.”
He accused the major parties of “kleptomania”, arguing they’d pinched New Zealand First's policies.
Jones was adamant New Zealand First would not support Labour in any post-election deal - despite warnings from senior National MPs that this could happen after the votes are cast.
“I don’t care how many times Simeon Brown, dressed like a little general, a Temu Napoleon, I don’t care how many times he puts it in the media that our leader is going to do that. That is fake news.”
It followed comments from Brown likening coalition partners New Zealand First and ACT to “children”, and an exhortation to voters on the right that they should only vote National if they wish to see a National government.
In the most recent 1News Verian poll, the current coalition was slightly short of being able to re-form the government for a second term.
New Zealand First was up slightly to 11%, which would make it the fourth largest party behind National, Labour, and the Greens.
However, in the preferred PM stakes, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was at 10%, in third place behind Chris Luxon on 18%, and Chris Hipkins on 16%.
For reporter Whena Owen's full story, watch the video above
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
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