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The National Party on Government and Leadership

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The National Party supports cutting the number of public servants employed by government

National policy is to cap the number of core bureaucrats in their first term of government and “ensure that priority is given to delivering frontline services that directly benefit New Zealanders”. The party has been critical of the growing public sector, specifically promising to “reduce the number of communications and public relations advisers across the public service”. On the campaign trail John Key has said “We think there's been some excesses built up in the Government” and he has said he would establish a cabinet committee to cut “waste” from the public service.

The National Party is neutral on state asset sales and more private sector involvement in public services

National’s 2008 policy says “it wants to build New Zealand’s asset base, and so we will not sell all or part of any state-owned enterprise or crown company. We believe the sale of state-owned enterprises is unnecessary. The New Zealand Government does not have a debt problem – the country has a growth problem”. It has promised no asset sales in its first term, but finance spokesman Bill English was caught on tape saying the party would sell of Kiwibank “eventually”. English later retracted the statement saying “National... Has not plans to sell it”.

The National Party opposes restrictions on foreign investors' ownership of New Zealand land and/or strategic assets

National's policy doesn't specifically address foreign ownership of our land and assets. However when Labour announced foreign investment rules this year allowing ministers to block deals that would allow control of strategic assets and land to fall into overseas ownership, National leader John Key was strongly opposed, saying, "This sends a terrible message to investors that the Labour Government is prepared to play recklessly with investment rules. Labour has put up a 'don't invest here' sign on the New Zealand sharemarket". Key said he supported majority-ownership should remain in New Zealand hands, "but we are more relaxed about minority ownership."

The National Party strongly supports holding a binding referendum to review the MMP electoral system

National party policy is to hold a binding referendum on MMP no later than 2011. Leader John Key says, "The referendum will give people a choice between retaining MMP without any further consideration or having a further vote on MMP alongside another electoral system or systems”.

The National Party opposes once again making the Privy Council New Zealand's highest court

National’s policy does not mention the Privy Council, but in May 2007 leader John Key said on Kiwi FM that “the advice I keep getting is that it’s just not possible to go back to the Pricy Council”. He suggested the Supreme Court might want to draw on judges from overseas given the small pool of judges in this country.

The National Party is neutral on keeping TVNZ in state hands and operating under the existing charter TVNZ

“National will maintain state ownership of Television New Zealand and make TVNZ charter funding contestable through NZ on Air and make it available to other free-to-air broadcasters on a competitive basis so that the best projects get onto our screens,” according to party policy.