Mr Peters may have lost the battle to stop the meat processor progressing its joint venture with Shanghai Maling but that is unlikely to stop him mentioning foreign investment — particularly from China — at the NZ First national conference in the city tomorrow and Sunday.
It is the first time the party’s annual conference has been held in Dunedin and is the largest the party has held since its formation in 1996.
More than 200 delegates will be attending.
Mr Peters, also the MP for Northland, is likely to push the importance of regions in his leader’s speech on Sunday afternoon.
The message of National neglecting the regions meant Mr Peters winning the former National stronghold of Northland in a by-election characterised by the Government promising much and delivering little in the way of road improvements and bridges.
NZ First supporters are usually characterised as older people angry about the way they perceive they have been treated by successive governments.
Mr Peters taps into that dissatisfaction.
His support also comes from the regions.
As National continues to drop the agricultural portfolio down the rankings, some farmers are shifting their support to Mr Peters.
It is certain the NZ First leader will launch a full-on attack on National Party policies, pointing to a perceived lack of support for the regions and the productive sector.
Mark Patterson, a Lawrence farmer, is one of the new faces to be seen in the NZ First ranks in the South. The former National Party supporter helped reconstitute the Clutha-Southland branch of the party about 12 months ago in an effort to lift the party’s profile.
Also, the Waitaki branch has been reconstituted with Krissy McGeown instrumental in the reformation.
"This is about walking the talk. We talk a big game about the regions; it is important to be delivering. The Northland electorate is a result of the work NZ First puts into regions," Mr Patterson said.
With Auckland issues at the top of most agendas, particularly around housing and infrastructure, it was easy for National to put regions at the bottom of the pecking order.
There was massive pressure building up in Auckland and it was not hard to see where the money was going.
Auckland was an important wealth creator for the country but there should be a better diversification of resources, he said.
There are some in-committee sessions for the conference but most is in open meeting, a sharp contrast to the way National and Labour have been running their conferences of late.
Much of the time on both days will be taken up with remits.
At a glance
• First time NZ First has held its national convention in Dunedin
• Largest conference since the party’s formation in 1996
• Regional development likely to be a key talking point
• Two branches reconstituted in the region as support grows
