Christopher Luxon's message went down well with his audience, especially when he discussed the crime rate. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Leader Christopher Luxon hastily added a second session to National's Get New Zealand Back on Track roadshow in New Plymouth today as party faithful spilled out into the car park of the Plymouth Hotel.
Hundreds of largely Pākehā aged 60-plus turned out to hear the National Party leader outline his vision for the country's future.
There was bumper to bumper traffic outside the Plymouth Hotel as Luxon's roadshow rolled into town.
It wasn't much more comfortable inside as the lunchtime crowd jostled for vantage points.
Murray had seen Luxon speak before and wasn't prepared for the turnout.
"Very very surprised - I didn't think there would be anywhere near this many people here, but there's just cars everywhere. It's gridlock outside."
It was so busy, in fact, he had to cool his heels at the bar and wait for the second session.
Bruce and Margaret also didn't make the cut.
Bruce said they were hoping to hear something uplifting.
"Some positivity would be good. Yeah positivity number one, yeah. I'm sick of the negativity that's going on at the moment."
Also in a holding pattern was 30-year-old Tāne Webster - almost certainly the youngest person at the event.
He was hoping to hear some fighting talk.
"That he'll put an end to co-governance and decrease the centralisation of control that the Labour Party keeps pushing and a lot of the disgusting stuff they are pushing in schools.
"Personally, I'm really opposed to it and it all needs to stop. The gender ideology and the kind of sexual education that's on steroids some would say."
In an hour-long address, Luxon revisited some now-familiar touchstones - government spending and centralisation, the cost of living crisis, the housing shortage and the failing education system.
But getting tough on crime got the biggest reaction.
"We've got to restore law and order and personal accountability in this country, right? Because we have lost the plot big time," Luxon said to rousing applause.
Part of the audience at one of the two sessions. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
And then it was over to audience questions.
Reece had gender issues on his mind.
"It's about the agenda that's being pushed and certainly the sexualisation of some of the curriculum, also the pushing of puberty blockers. You're a Christian man you should be able to speak to that."
And Luxon did.
"So, the first thing I'd say on the education side is that issues of sexuality and stuff are I think issues for parents to talk about and their families to talk about.
"We want the teachers' focus 100 percent on, as I said the basics of maths, reading and science."
Merv championed a return to offshore oil and gas exploration and found a friend in Luxon.
"So, Merv first part of the question on oil and gas - we actually need gas in particular as a transitory energy source for maybe the next 20 years as we make the transition to renewable energy."
Cue loud applause.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Luxon was quick to point out, however, that National shared the government's desire to move towards a carbon neutral economy.
One woman's gripe about children having to learn te reo didn't get the same level of approval.
"Children 9 years old, 10 years old and they have to learn Māori, but they can't even jolly spell or write English. So, come on, what are we going to do about it," she implored.
Luxon was happy to talk about it.
"So first and foremost you've got to recognise the average age of New Zealanders is 38 and most of us actually came through learning a bit of te reo or a little bit with the national anthem or other things."
Cue loud groaning and cries of "no"
Luxon persisted.
"Calm down, calm down. All I'm saying is that is the reality of New Zealand where people are at, but I appreciate many people in this room haven't learned te reo.
"But I personally I'm trying to learn because I actually want to learn and that should be up to me as a free choice."
Those piling out of the first session were mostly happy enough.
Jenny liked what she heard.
"Most definitely. Just the reassurances that the National government - if they get in - are going to back to good policy and get rid of all the bureaucracy that gets tagged in with everything."
John was nonplussed.
"No real highlights; he's been saying all the things I've heard before and all the things I expected him to say. He's going to get the government out of running businesses and get them being a government."
Edna was pleased enough.
"He was good. He didn't answer some of the questions, but I thought he did very well."
Peter had spotted a problem.
"Looking at the average age of the audience you're preaching to the converted and I really want to see our young people being more engaged and getting them to vote and understand the issues and them taking ownership of those problems."
The next stop for National's Get New Zealand Back on Track tour is Auckland's Takanini next Friday.
