New Zealand First is one step closer to campaigning on a law that will force immigrants and refugees to sign up to a set of core values.
Immigration to New Zealand. Photo: RNZ
The remit, which passed with some opposition, was hotly debated by party supporters at the 25th annual conference in Tauranga at the weekend.
If enacted the Respecting New Zealand Values Bill would require new migrants to respect gender equality, "all legal sexual preferences," religious rights, and the legality of alcohol.
Wairarapa NZ First supporter Roger Melville said the law could not come soon enough.
Mr Melville described the attitudes he had encountered from immigrants throughout the North Island.
"Arrogance, downright ignorance of putting people down and forcing their ways and means."
Former NZ First MP Mahesh Bindra also supported the remit.
Born in Mumbai, Mr Bindra came with his family in 2002 and was the party's ethnic affairs spokesperson.
"We do have certain cultures, or subcultures coming into the country, and their values do not necessarily match up with our values.
"There are certain practises - I don't want to name any religion - that are not conducive to our way of living."
Pita Paraone, another former NZ First MP who dropped out of Parliament at the last election, is also a fan of the proposed policy.
"I think the fact there's discussions about young girls being married off at a young age or being betrothed to older men is certainly something that runs against the New Zealand psyche."
But the youth wing of the party was not convinced.
William Woodward said it was good to have debate but it was not a policy that was needed.
"Speaking form a young NZ First point of view, New Zealand as a free first-world country has all of those avenues for people to be able to express their religion, to express their freedoms in a very free and safe way."
Party leader Winston Peters said the law was needed.
"If someone's over here who wants to change this country and doesn't want to support this country's law ... who thinks women are cattle and second-class citizens, that person should not be here, sorry.''
Mr Peters did not produce any new policy when he made his keynote speech yesterday afternoon but he went on a full blown attack against the National Party leader Simon Bridges.
"National's behaviour since the election has only confirmed our good sense in choosing Labour. National is leaderless, moribund, and vacuous.
"It's a shell of its former self because it's been seduced by marketing. Substance will always trump shallowness so remember this, Simon Bridges will not lead National into the next election.
"He is a desperate man."
The conference celebrated the party's 25 years.
