Former Labour MP Stuart Nash appeared at New Zealand First’s annual conference in Palmerston North, signalling openness to campaigning for the party while stopping short of confirming membership.
Nash praised Winston Peters’ leadership and criticised Finance Minister Nicola Willis, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori for policies he described as disconnected from everyday New Zealanders.
He expressed disillusionment with his former party, saying it had abandoned traditional values, while reflecting on his dismissal from Cabinet in 2023.
“The thing that disappointed me most is not the fact that I wasn’t sitting in cabinet,” Nash said. “The thing that really disappointed me was the guy that I thought had my back and was a good mate actually didn’t. Even a very experienced politician like I was didn’t expect to be stabbed in the back.”
“I don’t think that I’ve abandoned the Labour Party. I suspect the Labour Party has probably abandoned me, and I suspect it’s also abandoned a whole lot of other people who grew up with those values and are looking at the Labour Party, going ‘this is not the party that my grandfather or my father talked about’,” said Nash.
Peters welcomed Nash’s presence, leaving the possibility of his political return with NZ First open.
“I’m not so arrogant to think that I can just jump into New Zealand First”, said Nash.
“There is a process, but you know, I enjoy the New Zealand First team. I know a number of them, we have enlightening conversations.
“Like I said, if I wasn’t interested in politics, I wouldn’t be here, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge, before any final decisions are made.”
Following his speech to the NZ First convention in Palmerston North, former Labour MP Stuart Nash answered questions on the state of the Labour Party and whether they’ve gone ‘woke’.
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— REALITY CHECK RADIO (@RCR_NZ) September 6, 2025
A big club of recycling parasites.
Politicians are used car salesmen
They all have their own angle
That benefits them
And reinvent themselves at a throw of the dice
Former members of the uni-party are joining the uni-parties safety net.
“Whenever the people need a hero, we shall supply him”
And becoming the very thing they once opposed
A.k.a as hypocrisy
Cuck incoming.
Yes Labour as working class people knew them, is gone but then it was never the people’s party it claimed to be, anyway. As for NZF I’m not seeing them as being vastly different from the rest. We need new truly reformist parties if NZ is going to change for the better “hopefully”.
It’s Sunday morning reading time and the comment section does not disappoint.
Parasite
Has been getting some airplay on Duncan Garner lately
Not a good look