"Granddad was blue, dad was blue, I was blue until I woke up," a New Zealand First member who previously supported National said on Saturday.
By Lillian Hanly for RNZ
Another delegate said she had previously been a National member, but now thought National was "too weak" in terms of policy.
Another suggested "the globalist governments have done nothing but degrade our economy", saying the leaders of other parties were opting for "globalist" agendas.
NZ First members and candidates are in Auckland for a party conference and election campaign launch, as polling shows the party's popularity continues to rise.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said some voters' shift away from National was due to his party's focus on nationalism with a "capital N".
"People are coming from other political parties and realising it's one party now that's critically needed."
It comes as New Zealand First climbs in the polls. The 11.5% the party received in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll was its third consecutive rise in this poll and its best result in nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, National slumped to its lowest level of support since Luxon became leader, at 28.7%.
Around 380 delegates were present at the NZ First convention. New candidates - and former National Party MPs - such as Alfred Ngaro, Harete Hipango-Brownlie and Michael Laws were also there.
But it was not just National deserters the party was welcoming. A recently confirmed member, former Labour minister Rino Tirikatene, was not present on Saturday morning, but he told RNZ he joined the party because he supported the principles and policies, "which fit well with my personal beliefs".
"Winston and Shane are whanaunga of mine, and I support them 100%," he added, confirming he would not be running for Parliament.
Former Labour MP Dover Samuels was present, along with confirmed candidate and former Labour minister Stuart Nash.
New Zealand First minister Ron Mark was also there as a member. He told RNZ he had not made up his mind yet about running.
Deputy leader Shane Jones introduced Peters, welcoming the crowd to the "first of our successful rallies as we march forward to victory" on November 7.
He then warned those listening about "demographic engineering".
He said it was not for New Zealand First to be "hobbled, stared down, cowered by the vested interests and the more powerful, voluminous parties who don't want us to reflect what our fellow citizens feel in the hinterlands… Who doesn't want us to reflect what garden-variety Kiwis are apprehensive over, as they watch demographic engineering before their eyes".
Asked later by reporters what this meant, he would not elaborate, pointing instead to a speech later in the day.
Peters then took to the stage saying "seconds out of the ring for round 33", a nod to New Zealand First's 33rd anniversary.
"We've got the players and we've got the strategy," Peters said, as the party marked the start of the election campaign.
"We've got news for our opponents and it's all bad. This weekend is about how we, as a party, can build our country back to the greatness it once had."
He spoke about the "sliding" economy, and the need to increase wages.
Peters also took aim yet again at the Indian Free Trade Agreement, suggesting people were talking the deal up when they hadn't read the agreement.
"We stand for the national interest, even when we stand alone."
He also addressed the members present, saying the media was also in the room.
"Just because there's a microphone in front of your mouth doesn't mean you have to answer," he said, suggesting members could say "I'll leave it to the leader" if they didn't want to speak.
What party members want
RNZ spoke to some members who had joined NZ First in the past year. One said New Zealand First was "sensible", and that Kiwis needed to come together. He said Labour had caused the division.
Another said NZ First was calling out policies she did not agree with. She did not specify the policies, but said she was a Christian and there were a number of things happening in the country and "across the world that I don't agree with from that perspective".
"I've been a National Party member and supporter on all that side of things, as a young person, I voted Green, and they seem to have lost track.
"NZ First seems to be the next, the one that I think probably matches what I believe this country should be doing."
She said National's policy was "too weak".
Another pointed to the name of the party, suggesting the party would put New Zealand first.
"Winston Peters must have known something years ago when he created the party. The globalist governments have done nothing but degrade our economy, our state of living, and our freedoms."
She said experimental medications should not be mandated, referencing Covid-19 but also her wish not to have a smear or a mammogram until she chose to, rather than every two years.
In New Zealand, women between the age of 45 and 69 qualify for regular free mammograms, but it is a choice.
She said her medical practitioner "gave me a really hard time" for choosing not to, "my voice has not been heard".
Another new member told RNZ he joined because "you can't change culture without changing politics". In terms of what needed to change, he said he liked the party's "common sense policies".
The party says it has a focus on nationalism, social conservatism, patriotism and common sense.
Another member agreed, saying New Zealand was a conservative country, and it needed "some direction".
'Long list' wanting Cabinet positions
Speaking to reporters after his opening address, and asked if he would like to see Ron Mark around the cabinet table again, Peters said the list process was something he stayed out of.
"If I was to show preference like that, it means that their list system doesn't work. It means that people aren't treated fairly."
Asked how he planned to manage new MPs with parliamentary experience who might want Cabinet positions, along with those who had been in Parliament this past term, Peters just said "there's going to be a long list".
Members will vote on a number of remits over the weekend, including:
- whether to advocate for legislation requiring all universities to adopt strictly merit-based admissions criteria
- funding a primary care winter wellness check for seniors
- protecting New Zealand's sovereignty by rejecting international agreements or trade deals that compromise parliamentary supremacy, independent immigration policy, economic self-governance or democratic control over laws
- reaffirming one law for all New Zealanders.
The party listed its candidates for the election, and provided a coalition agreement report.
The convention will continue on Sunday.
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