The Republic of New Zealand Party

Hello, and welcome to the first National Retreat of the Republic of New Zealand Party.

It is an honour to address you today. I see around me politically savvy people. People with insight and determination. The insight to know that it is the time for our country to become a republic, and the determination to invest them-selves in the future of our country.

As Republicans it is our task to present this platform to voters at next years election, and to show voters that we are the party for the people of New Zealand.

Now is the time to reflect briefly on how far we have come.

As Party Chairman it has been very satisfying for me to see our party grow from a small combined executive and caucus to a fully grounded political party. I believe, friends, we can be satisfied with our progress to date; our party has made huge strides. We have come through this year with our 007 campaign “Meet the Republicans”, which we have taken to many centres through NZ.

Jack Gielen and Paul Haynes both recently contested positions in their local elections. They were the first Republican candidates in the October 2007 local body elections. Congratulations, you both have put the Republicans on the map in your cities. Thank you for your efforts.

We have established our website, introduced ourselves to the media, and put an introduction to our policy position in the public arena. The Chairman’s report each month is a good tool to let all know just what is going on.

I take this opportunity to thank all those who have put in the hard yards to get us this far.

Now that we have a concrete foundation that will stand the test of time, we must cement a future direction, showing voters where we intend to go. That we are not just about the next election, but that it’s all the way into the history books of the future Republic of NZ.

This is our very first retreat. It is a building time. We have brought our nomination process to a conclusion [Not that this means we can’t add to the numbers before next years election.] We are constantly on the look out for worthy candidates and members for both caucus and executive. When we leave Tauhara it will be with a caucus ready to contest the 2008 Election.

I originally put my name forward and was accepted as the Candidate for the New Lynn electorate, however if my nomination for Mt Albert is accepted today I will vacate the New Lynn candidacy.

Yes Helen, I am prepared to take you on, right in our home electorate. That is a battle that has already begun. I feel that Helen has a problem controlling her own members in the house. How then can she be effective in controlling what happens in our own constituency?

To all candidates who succeed with their nominations, I look forward to working with you during the coming election campaign. Teamwork is fundamental to putting Republicans in Parliament. This is what teamwork is all about.

What will we take away with us from this weekend? Kerry Bevin will speak to us about our oo8 campaign – our 5 Ways forward our platform for the next election.

This shows that we are a party that has its feet firmly planted on the ground with a rock solid foundation to make New Zealand the best of the Republics in the world. Something we will have to be to survive in the global economic system of today and to get ourselves back up that OECD ladder. From which we have slipped from 21st to 24th place.

I thank you all for travelling from around the country and making the effort to be here today, especially those who have put so much time and energy into the preparation for today. It is commitment like this that will build our platform from which we launch our leap into the House of Representatives.

Our beliefs are now a reality.

I will now invite Kerry Bevin to deliver the leader’s speech.

Thank you.