New Zealand First is closely associated with its policies regarding the welfare of senior citizens,[2] and its anti-immigration stance.[14][20] The party has frequently criticised immigration on economic, social and cultural grounds. It proposes an annual immigration cap of between 7000 and 15,000 "seriously qualified" migrants, who would be expected to assimilate into New Zealand culture.[21]
Winston Peters has on several occasions characterised the rate of Asian immigration into New Zealand as too high; in 2004, he stated: "We are being dragged into the status of an Asian colony and it is time that New Zealanders were placed first in their own country".[22] On 26 April 2005, he said: "Māori will be disturbed to know that in 17 years' time they will be outnumbered by Asians in New Zealand", an estimate disputed by Statistics New Zealand, the government's statistics bureau. Peters quickly rebutted that Statistics New Zealand has underestimated the growth-rate of the Asian community in the past.[23] In April 2008, deputy leader Peter Brown drew widespread attention after voicing similar views and expressing concern at the increase in New Zealand's ethnic Asian population: "If we continue this open door policy there is real danger we will be inundated with people who have no intention of integrating into our society … They will form their own mini-societies to the detriment of integration and that will lead to division, friction and resentment".[24]
The party also espouses a mixture of economic policies. It opposes the privatisation of state assets (particularly to overseas buyers) and advocates buying back former state-owned enterprises.[25] This policy aligns it with views generally found on the left of New Zealand politics.[26][27] On the other hand, it favours reducing taxation and reducing the size of government (policies typical of the New Zealand right) and espouses strongly conservative views on social issues.[2] New Zealand First provided for its strong support among elderly voters[8] by its repeal of the surtax on superannuation, institution of a superannuation level of 66% of the net average wage,[28] and introduction of the SuperGold Card (see below).[29] The party opposes any raising of the retirement age.[30]
"Law and order" issues feature heavily in the party's policy platform.[27][31] New Zealand First advocates a stricter criminal code, longer judicial sentences, and the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility.[32] In 2011, at its annual convention, New Zealand First announced that its MPs would vote to repeal the controversial Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 (which it characterised as the "anti-smacking law"), which a vast majority of voters rejected in a 2009 citizen-initiated referendum.[33] In the 2017 general election campaign, the party again announced its intention to repeal the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007; it also ruled out a confidence and supply arrangement or coalition with any party which opposed the policy.[34]
New Zealand First is further characterised by its strong stance on the Treaty of Waitangi.[27] The party refers to the Treaty as a "source of national pride" but does not support it becoming a part of constitutional law.[35] Peters has criticised the "Treaty industry" and cost of Treaty negotiations and settlement payments.[36][37] In Māori affairs more generally, the party calls for an end to separatism and what it perceives as special treatment of Māori.[38]
