New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters has told Waihi residents his party's Royalties for the Regions policy will benefit the town by keeping more mining royalties in the region.

Addressing residents at the Memorial Hall in Seddon Street from 1pm today, Winston says his party's policy is directly relevant to Waihi – and could see improvements to local facilities, amenities and infrastructure.

NZ First leader Winston Peters addressed residents at Waihi today.

'Under our policy, 25 per cent of the revenue collected as royalties from extractive industries would remain in the region that produced them,” says the leader.

'Imagine the improvements to local facilities, amenities and infrastructure if Waihi and this region were receiving 25 per cent of the royalties from the Newmont mines.

In 1987 Winston says the Labour Government negotiated a zero royalty rate with Newmont.

'Realistically that rate has increased very little, 'says Winston, who believes the company's two gold and silver Trio and Favona underground mines at Waihi paid royalties of one per cent of the mines' revenue and the open pit Martha 0.5 per cent.

In 2012, the Martha mine paid a cash royalty to the Government of $987,385.

He also assured the mining community New Zealand First would stand by them to ensure the 'government does do its duty by local residents”.

'A compensation package for residents who wanted to sell and move elsewhere should have been worked through,” says Winston.

'Their houses have been depreciated because of the extractive operations and it's only fair that government take responsibility.”

Winston believes the interest of Waihi residents should have to be taken into account whenever mining, drilling or exploration activities are proposed.

'Waihi and gold – the two are inseparable. What Waihi shows is the absolute necessity and importance of firm and strict regulation to ensure communities and mining can co-exist.

'Our position is that international companies are welcome when they generate real jobs and wealth in New Zealand.

'There are real issues facing Waihi East residents as Newmont changes its mining activities. These include the environmental and financial impacts on property values.

'The interests of local residents must not be dismissed to those of corporate interests.”

Fishing was also a topic this afternoon's discussion, with Winston outlining New Zealand First's policy on fishing and protecting resources to balance recreational and customary needs.

'One of the most important and fundamental foundations of our society is the right of people to catch food from the wild.

'The people of New Zealand and the needs of future generations should come first when setting allowances based on reliable surveys.”

He says no one wants to deny the commercial fishing industry the right to earn an honest living, but the fishery belongs to the nation as a whole.

'Under our policy, the extent of the inshore fishery will be determined by the region through consultation with its interest groups, but it is envisaged that in most regions it will typically be to the 12-mile territorial limit.

'In some regions a depth limit such as the 100m line may be more appropriate than a distance limit.”

Winston says this inshore fishery must be the primary preserve of recreational fishing.

To be fair, commercial fishing will be compensated for any loss of access to the inshore fishery, says Winston.

'No trawling will be permitted in the inshore fishery and, with few exceptions, no commercial catch from the inshore fishery will be allowed to be exported.

'Where commercial fishing inshore is required in order to supply local trade – for example coastal set netting for flat fish – this must be only in designated areas and only by approved methods.”

As Winston prepares to head down the campaign trail for the 2014 election, he also took this afternoon's public meeting as an opportunity to set out some of the policies New Zealand First has long stood for.

'Let's start by stating some of the fundamental principles we operate by – because they have served us well through the past 21 years. New Zealand First is a non-ideological party – our policies are reality-based.

'We are not beholden, constrained or limited by a whole range of pre-existing positions or serving particular interest groups.”

He says this give his party a unique advantage, as they look at the facts and work for what is in the best interests of ordinary Kiwis and New Zealand as a whole.

'We have a comprehensive set of social priorities based on sound principles.”