United Future vs Conservatives?

Michael Fox at Stuff reports:

United Future leader Peter Dunne has used his party conference to attack the “Green Taliban” and “crackpot Conservatives” and all but ruled out working with Labour next year.

He has also unveiled an increased focus on environmental issues upon which the party will stand in the next election and outlined his vision for increasing participation in local politics. …

Dunne told his enthusiastic audience that his party would present itself as a champion of the environment and outdoor recreation next year.

Part of the reason New Zealand’s environmental credentials had taken a hammering recently was because environmental policy had been “hijacked by the political left, and have accordingly succumbed to the notion that unless you are a Green, you cannot have any concern for our environment”.

“In an open society, there is a place for the Green Taliban, but it is at the fringes, and not centre stage.

”Mainstream New Zealanders did care about environmental issues and the mainstream giant is stirring from its slumbers.

“It is time for the rise of the purple-greens – the mainstream New Zealanders who care practically about the state of our environment and want to do more than just pontificate and wring their hands in despair.” …

National should forget the “untested crackpot conservatives” and the “serially unreliable” New Zealand First.

The dance of the minor parties is starting!