Christopher Luxon steps into the role of Prime Minister – John Key

National Party members gathered in Auckland this weekend, clearly delighted to be back in power after last year’s election.

The party used the two-day conference to present its faction’s key positions, policies and overall plan to get the country back on track.

Party leader Christopher Luxon spoke triumphantly to party loyalists, now leading the largest ruling party.

“Our victory last year is a testament to your commitment and dedication, so I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you do for us,” he told the crowd of about 500.

The conference was something of a triumph for the party, as a series of panel discussions outlined the party’s new direction in areas such as health, justice and education.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has made no apology for public spending cuts, including the axing of some 6,000 public sector jobs.

“There may be fewer people wearing lanyards on Lambton Quay during our service, but there will be a lot more people wearing reflective clothing and helmets, and I say wear that.”

The conference was an opportunity to take stock of what has been done and what has not been done over the past nine months, and to take action for the future.

The government has announced the acceleration of work on a new mathematics curriculum for primary and secondary school students, which will come into effect from the first semester of next year.

Education Minister Erica Standford has promised that teachers will be given the support they need to deliver the modernised maths curriculum.

“I recognize that it will be a big change for teachers this year because we are accelerating it, but we are throwing everything into it. The resources that we are putting into supporting our teachers in teaching the new math curriculum next year are significant.”

There was a lot of talk over the weekend about the National Party’s core issues – property, farming, law and order – and very little mention of the party’s coalition partners.

The latest 1News Verian poll, released in late June, shows the National Party still has the largest support in Parliament, but the ACT Party and New Zealand First are needed to form a government.

Speaking to RNZ at a conference this weekend, former National Leader Sir John Key said that, all things considered, things were going well.

“They’re doing well, you know, when you’re in government, I know what it’s like when you’re working with coalition partners, you put in a lot of time and energy, but it’s like anything in life – it’s like a marriage really.

“You can have the happiest marriage in the world, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have disagreements from time to time.”

Given that Christopher Luxon’s popularity has yet to reach the levels of former prime ministers, Key believes the public will warm up to Luxon once they get to know him.

“I think he’s stepping into the role and it’s natural. I know when I took over in 2008, I think at that time, mid-2009, I was doing better and honestly, mid-2016, I understood how it worked.”

The National Party regrouped – contentedly – ​​after last year’s election, but its biggest challenge is yet to come.

She has just over two years left to lead the three-party coalition and deliver on its promise to improve the lives of New Zealanders.