Sir John Key has told National Party faithful that Christopher Luxon "has not blinked" through three tough years, backing the PM as he formally launched his party's bid for a second term in Auckland today.
Luxon used the launch to unveil a 10-point pledge card and tell voters they "can't afford Chris Hipkins". Finance Minister and National deputy leader Nicola Willis also teased Tuesday's pre-election economic update, telling members they would "like what you see".
Key, who was prime minister between 2008 and 2016, warmed up the crowd gathered at the International Convention Centre for the party's official campaign launch.
He spoke just before Luxon and after campaign chairperson Simeon Brown and finance spokesperson Nicola Willis issued a call to arms to the room of supporters.
Christopher Luxon said New Zealand was "turning the corner" and argued his government’s plan was working. (Source: 1News)
Key said the country had been through a difficult term, but Luxon had been holding firm.
"There's something you learn pretty quickly on the ninth floor of the Beehive. It is a lot easier to tell the Prime Minister about the Government's shortcomings than it is to be the Prime Minister and fix them," Key said.
"Our leader has stood firm, resolute, dedicated, unwavering in his commitment to this country. He has not blinked."
Key also saluted Luxon for his management of the country's first three-party coalition, while taking aim at Labour and its potential coalition partners.
"Even if we all had the net worth of Elon Musk, we can't afford those policies," he said.
Key also warned National supporters against splitting their votes by backing the party's local candidate but giving their party vote to another party.
"That is the opposite of clever. It means some of National's most talented ministers would be replaced by someone you have never heard of from a minor party," he said.
"The bigger National's party vote, the more likely we form the government. The bigger National's party vote, the more MPs we get in the House."
Luxon told media after the launch that about 1000 supporters, friends and volunteers had packed the venue. He also doubled down on Key's message, saying there was "no need for any strategic voting".
"There is no need for anyone to get clever. You are not helping us by voting for anybody else in the party vote," he said.
Ministers rally behind leader
National's senior MPs also lined up behind Luxon as the campaign got underway.
Whangaparāoa MP and police spokesperson Mark Mitchell said Luxon was "100%" the right person to lead the party to November 7.
"He's a great campaigner. The guy is relentless, has massive resilience, believes in our country, and proud to be our prime minister. Really proud of him as our PM. Really proud to get behind him as our leader, and to run a great campaign," he said.
It comes after Luxon's faced two confidence votes in caucus, both of which he called on himself, over the past six months with one them a confirmed failed leadership coup.
Meanwhile, MP Paul Goldsmith said the party was "all locked" behind the PM.
National Party president Sylvia Wood told 1News she expected the party's support to rise during the campaign. She would not say where she expected National to finish.
"I just want a really good party vote," Wood said.
'Smaller deficits, bigger surpluses'
Willis said the Government had been making progress on the fiscals despite a global tariff war and oil shock. Treasury's Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update will lift the curtain on the books for the final time before the election.
National's deputy leader appeared to tease Tuesday's reveal.
"On Tuesday this week, I'll open the Government books for the pre-election economic update. I won't say too much today about it, I want there to be some surprise.
"But let's put it this way: you'll like what you see, because despite everything that the world is throwing at New Zealand, our government is making great progress on fixing the books, smaller deficits, bigger surpluses, less debt."
Pressed by media after the launch, Willis would only say that "anyone who believes in economic and fiscal responsibility" would be pleased with the numbers.
Luxon also unveiled a 10-point pledge card that included several of his party's flagship policies and mantras - including no new taxes, extending paid parental leave, compulsory KiwiSaver with a $1500 Baby Boost, and replacing NCEA.
"Chris Hipkins has a slogan. National has a plan," Luxon said.
Asked whether National would run a positive or negative campaign, given how often he had named the Labour leader, he said it would be an "extremely positive campaign".
Labour launched its own campaign in Auckland today.
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