… something to think about this Melbourne Cup Day……
Melbourne Cup Day is Australia’s premier racing event and it is also a very big deal here in New Zealand too.
New Zealand First has been a strong advocate of racing for many, many years. We won’t apologise for that, no matter how often we are attacked on it. Racing is a $1.5 billion industry. It brings New Zealand international attention and business. It could be bigger and better. New Zealand First is proud of its support for the industry.
In the 2008 Budget, we secured additional funding for the industry, namely $3 million a year for the Racing Promotion and Sponsorship Scheme to promote feature races and increase stake money. We were attacked in Parliament by National and the Greens for this achievement and accused of all sorts of improper practices. And the New Zealand Herald had this to say in an editorial……
The industry is, understandably, jubilant. But, in reality, this is a taxpayer subsidy too far……. it is impossible to defend significant sums of taxpayer money being spent this way.
The New Zealand Herald attacking New Zealand First – now there’s a surprise! But the point we want to make is this: yesterday, the National Party released its racing policy and guess what? It agrees with all the gains New Zealand First has made for the industry and includes a promise to retain the Promotion and Sponsorship Scheme as well as other New Zealand First initiatives.
Where is the chorus of naysayers now? There aren’t any and there shouldn’t be. The policy was always sound. The earlier attacks on New Zealand First were just part of this ongoing campaign against our party by right-wing groups with vested interests.
We won’t be deterred. And when it comes to racing, we’ll continue our strong support for this important New Zealand industry.
November 4th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Well done Winston & New Zealand First.
You are above all those Critics & indeed have done wonders for the Racing Industry as well as delivering on all your other promises.
“NZ First not breached Electoral” Act.
At least that is over before the election. We hope you sue Hide & Key & the Media for defamation, TOMORROW before the election! Why not? There are plenty of us out here who would love that.
Of course you have our votes.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Just wanted to say how pleased I am (on Melbourne Cup day) to finally see NZ First cleared of all the trumped up charges instigated by Rodney Hide.
No doubt he will find something else to point the finger at, obviously trying to deflect the finger pointing at himself.
As a mid-30’s man, I often get asked why I am passionate about my support for NZ First and you Winston - even though I’m not an “oldie”. A few weeks ago I rattled off the principles of NZ First to a group of people, and then challenged them to do the same for the parties that they supported - they couldn’t! They don’t see that for MMP to work (and you have proven that it can) we need to have solid, reliable smaller parties with good founding principles, solid policy - and the ability to make change. Of all the smaller parties, NZ First is the only party to make significant policy change that the general populous support, and in doing so - the larger parties provide you with the greatest complement of all: Using NZ First policy!
Good luck this weekend - as always, you have my vote.
Aaron
November 7th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Couldn’t agree with you more Aaron and others….well said……