Nats celebrate 70 years

From left, Jim McLay, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Bill English and Don Brash at the anniversary dinner. Marty Melville / Getty Images

Five National Party stalwarts lined up last night for a photo opportunity with two things in common - they all led the National Party, and all were rolled or rolled someone to get there.

The National Party was turning on the glamour at a black-tie function in Parliament's Grand Hall to celebrate its 70th birthday.

The party was established formally at a conference in Wellington on May 13 and 14, 1936.

Four previous leaders - Jim McLay, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley and Bill English - joined leader Don Brash at the function.

Mr Bolger rolled Mr McLay, Mrs Shipley rolled Mr Bolger, Mr English rolled Mrs Shipley, and Dr Brash rolled Mr English to become leader of the party.

In his speech to the function, Mr Bolger delivered a plea for more inclusiveness of Maori and Pacific Islanders.

He noted that Maori corporations were getting bigger and more influential but were not represented at the function. Maori and Pacific Islanders gave New Zealand something extremely precious, "which is babies", Mr Bolger said.

The party needed to ask itself "Where are we going? New Zealand today is not New Zealand 1936."

Mr Bolger said he wanted to shake the hand of the next National prime minister but did not want to be kept waiting too long.

He had thoroughly enjoyed his time in Parliament. Politics was tough and it was even harder to be a centre right party. It asked tough questions such as how much government should there be, how much legislation, how much regulation.

A hard question to be answered was whether New Zealand should join Australia in a conscious decision or by osmosis, he said.

New Zealand would soon become a "shell" of a country because so many good people had gone.

Mr McLay said New Zealand must rejoice in diversity but also be a cohesive, single nation.

- NZPA