Voters saw Labour as distracted - Goff

Labour leader Phil Goff has told his party's annual conference in Rotorua that it lost the last election because it did not make clear enough that its priority was to help ordinary New Zealand families make progress in their lives.

"We were voted out because they thought we were getting distracted by sideshows," he said.

"The Winston Peters funding saga. The Electoral Finance Act. Errant MPs. Smacking. Lightbulbs. Showerheads."

In his first speech as leader to a party conference, Mr Goff pledged that under his leadership Labour would focus on a commitment to jobs, high standards of health and education, and a belief in strong communities.

- NZPA