"Nationhood, sovereignty and one country" will be the three key issues at the next election, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.
In Christchurch for his first public meeting of the year, Mr Peters said the three issues would have to be backed up with a sound economic programme.
Mr Peters rejected the suggestion that his party's focus on "one country" could be linked by his critics to Australia's controversial One Nation party headed by Pauline Hanson.
That link was made by some commentators in 1996, when One Nation was at its peak and Mr Peters was critical of Asian migration to New Zealand.
"You are referring to our phraseology and our themes that I have run since 1988, approximately nine years before anyone ever heard of the Australian party," he said.
About 100, mainly elderly, party members turned out to hear Mr Peters talk of the need for institutions, including Parliament, to regain the trust of the public.
He contrasted Labour's treatment of former NZ First MP Tukoroirangi Morgan over buying an $89 pair of underpants with its tolerance of its own ministers now under scrutiny.
Consumer Affairs Minister Phillida Bunkle and Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs had got far more from their out-of-town allowances than Mr Morgan's $89, he said.
"The Prime Minister should show some of the dynamic leadership extolled by the New Zealand media."
- NZPA
Peters spells out issues for next election
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