New Zealand First leader Winston Peters celebrated the parties 23^rd anniversary in Tauranga, by do what he does best – firing a salvo at the Government.

In front of a partisan crowd at the Omanu Bowls Club today, Winston covered a range of topics from immigration, tourism and foreign corporates through to the housing crisis.

Winston Peters talking at the Omanu Bowls Club today. Photos: Chris Callinan.

There were originally 30 booked for the function but when it was revealed Winston was to make an appearance, the number doubled.He told those gathered the party could take pride and confidence in what they had achieved in the last 23 years.

'All manner of parties and personalities, having been part of the mess this country has become economically and socially, are all now screaming ‘me too'.

'But look at their record. They have all been part of the growing problem. They have all haughtily and arrogantly dismissed New Zealand First. But a growing army of New Zealanders are now coming to see who, and which party it was that has acted as sentinel against unfocussed catastrophic change.

'They are looking to one party, New Zealand First, to make the change so desperately needed in our economy and social life. That's what our mission is on which we intend to succeed. It's time for New Zealand to vote for change.”

Winston also took a swipe at the Government's handling of New Zealand's biggest export earner, the dairy industry.

'Under National, dairy became a fattened cash cow that blew up fit to burst and it did. The Government did all it could to speed up the dairy expansion.

'Nothing was allowed to stop the dairy juggernaut, even if it did require ditching democracy on the Canterbury Regional Council.

'Now as dairy pay-out prices are at 13 year lows and any hint of a recovery is being made more difficult by a rising New Zealand dollar, Finance Minister Bill English is denying his government has any responsibility for the dairy sector crisis.”

He also fired a broadside at how the Government were failing to stop foreign corporates take advantage of the country's tax laws.

'We have foreign corporates bottling our water and making millions while paying a pittance in tax. Twenty multi-nationals like Google with revenue of nearly $10 billion paid less than half of a percent of tax in New Zealand last year.”

Winston says the country had become a tax haven for foreign corporates.

He told the crowd New Zealand First was proud of the policies, principles and it's record in the 23 years the party has been in existence.

'We have worked hard to keep our political system honest. We have spoken up when others would not. We have shown real courage when others did not…

'We are as important to New Zealand now as we were 23 years ago, even more so.”

From left, form mayor of Tauranga, Noel pope and wife Ena, Winston Peters, Ron Mark, Deputy Leader of NZ First and Rotorua list MP, Fletcher Tabuteau.