Election 2026: National targets Labour at conference, as Christopher Luxon heaps praise on Chris Bishop, Erica Stanford ‘fan club’ emerges

National sought to drive home what it considers to be a contrast between its economic management and what it claimed was the “short-term thinking” of the Labour Party, on the first day of its annual conference.

Party faithful gathered in a gloomy Lower Hutt on Saturday to hear speeches from National’s leader Christopher Luxon, president Sylvia Wood, deputy Nicola Willis, as well as an assortment of other senior MPs participating in question-and-answer sessions.

Luxon, who has faced down chatter about his leadership this year, received warm cheers from the audience and later spent time mingling with those members in attendance.

In his speech, he lathered praise on Chris Bishop, the local MP and also the National MP who has been speculated as a potential rival to Luxon’s leadership (though Bishop has repeatedly denied this).

The party leader called him “one of the hardest working people I know”, asking members to applaud him and thanking him for “everything that you’re doing to bring this region to life”.

The Hutt South electorate, where the conference was taking place, is a marginal one that has recently swung back and forth between National and Labour. With National’s polling currently behind Labour, it could be a seat the party and Bishop lose on November 7.

Perhaps aware of a need to highlight the party’s commitment to the area, Luxon spent a sizeable portion of his speech listing off actions the Government was undertaking in the region and developments in the private sector.

The rest of his address was intended to charge up his party’s supporters.

He said the conference was “where we recharge and it’s also where we get organised because, make no mistake, this weekend is where our campaign begins”.

Luxon will return tomorrow for a longer speech, which is expected to include a policy announcement.

While he clearly had support among the membership, another of his ministers who received a strong reception was Education Minister Erica Stanford.

When Stanford and her education policies were mentioned during a speech, they received one of the loudest applauses of the day.

Later, when taking part in a Q+A session alongside other ministers, nearly all of the questions were asked of her, preceded by the members praising her work.

At the end of that segment, National’s Matt Doocey, who was moderating, said it had been great to be part of the “Erica Stanford fan club” meeting.

The most political of the speeches came from Willis, the Finance Minister, who began by lauding Luxon.

“[He’s] ambitious for New Zealand, global in outlook with great conviction about the need to deliver for his fellow New Zealanders, leading a coalition with some personalities in it,” she said, clearly referring to NZ First and Act members.

“Leading us through a volatile world and doing it with optimism, with aspiration, showing huge tenacity and resilience and hard, hard work. Prime Minister, New Zealand is so lucky to have you.”

She went on to explain what she called “National’s vision”, which included having a “Government that makes responsible choices, that works hard to keep inflation under control, that guards against ever-rising interest rates”.

“A Government that ensures we are managing our debt and keeping taxes low.”

Willis highlighted a series of positive economic signals, including this week’s rosy gross domestic product (GDP) figure and the books coming back into surplus earlier under her preferred measure.

But she also took it to Labour, arguing it was asking New Zealanders to “forget about tomorrow and think only of today”.

“Kiwis understand there is no free lunch and that when politicians pretend there is, it’s working men and women who end up footing the bill,” Willis told National members.

“Labour has not learned their lessons from their last stint in Government. Instead, they’re hoping Kiwis have short memories.”

Labour has come under attack from Willis for not yet explaining how it will fund many of the promises it’s made this term, including reinstating the previous pay equity scheme.

The National MP released what she referred to as Labour’s “hidden bill” last Sunday. When she mentioned that in her speech, there were cries of “shame” in the audience.

Labour has said all of its policies will be fully costed and it will release a fiscal plan setting out its economic approach before the election.

It has released several policies in recent weeks, including two new health policies – free maternity scans and free prescriptions – which it has explained will be funded via its proposed capital gains tax (CGT).

But Willis’ jabs weren’t exclusive to Labour, as she took a shot at NZ First leader and coalition partner Winston Peters as well.

Telling members National was “taking on the local Government behemoth”, Willis said the party was “advancing plans to reduce its many layers”.

“And mark my words, Winston Peters, cap the rates that it charges,” she said.

That was a reference to comments Peters made at Fieldays last week. As the Herald revealed at the time, the NZ First leader questioned rates caps, despite it being a policy of the Government he is a member of.

While the electoral contest was the clear focus of the day – Wood, the president, on several occasions said it would be a “tight” fight – MPs also had their minds on tonight’s sporting contest.

The Super Rugby Pacific final between the Hurricanes and Chiefs is being hosted not far from Lower Hutt in Wellington and was referenced by various speakers, including the Prime Minister.

“I have to say as a genuine, proud Crusaders fan, what a genuine privilege it is to be here on a Saturday night, in the capital, swamped and surrounded by Hurricanes supporters, obviously watching the Chiefs fight it out for a title.”

Luxon went on to suggest National’s slogan of “fixing the basics and building the future” could apply to his team.

“The same Chiefs who got 49 points on my team just a fortnight ago, but I kind of want you all to know that I am not bitter at all. I just look at this year for the Crusaders is quite simply a year where we are fixing the basics and building for the future.”

Jamie Ensor is the NZ Herald’s Chief Political Reporter, based in the press gallery at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. He was a finalist in 2025 for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.