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PM Press Conference – Election Date, Malaysian Aid
PM Press Conference – Election Date, Malaysian Aid - 10 March 2014
By The Scoop Team
Prime Minister John Key announced this week that the elections will be held on September 20th.
Speaking at his weekly press conference in Wellington, Mr Key indicated that the government chose a slightly earlier date to account for the G20 Summit in November. He also said “It is in the country’s best interest to have plenty of certainty and notice.”
Mr Key believes that, no matter who hold the office of Prime Minister, New Zealand should be represented at the meeting of world leaders. In addition, Mr Key said that “half a dozen” world leaders had indicated their interest in visiting the country. New Zealand, would want a stable leader and government in place to welcome them.
The Prime Minister said that the National Party would be running on three main points in the upcoming elections:
1. The National Party’s track record: “We have guided New Zealand well, through the Christchurch earthquake and the global financial crisis….This change has not come by accident.”
2. New initiatives and ideas, especially the recent education plan.
3. Mr Key said that the National Party is in touch with what “New Zealanders want and need”.
In discussing the election, Mr Key expressed his hope that, moving forward, New Zealand would continue to hold elections in September to account for APEC conferences.
Mr Key said that he believes the election will be tight and close. “Elections are like World Cups. They look easy to win but they are actually very difficult to win.”
In other news, the New Zealand government has offered aid to the Malaysian government in its search for a missing plane that included two New Zealand passengers.
Other topics included nuclear weapons, Winston Peters, tobacco prices, and the reserve bank.
ENDS
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