Shane Jones says looking after "our own people" isn't racist, it's what a nationalist party that represents the interests of New Zealanders protects.

"We want to ensure we secure our own futures and get the people we need, not the people who need us."

The deputy New Zealand First leader has given a rousing and emphatic speech littered with jokes about the party's new MPs and attacks on Indian immigration, to conclude the first day of the party convention.

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Previously, in relation to the Indian free trade agreement, Jones had likened Indians coming to New Zealand as a "butter chicken tsunami."

At the time his parliamentary colleagues had told him to tone down his language, but Jones said he gets "cut-through on debates by deploying hyperbole."

The energy was the same on Saturday, with Jones referring to the celebrity cast of individuals who had recently put their names into the mix to run for Parliament

"If it is to be a celebrity contest, I introduce to you, Michael Laws."

He then went on to name Stuart Nash, Taine Randell and Alfred Ngaro, before suggesting there was a celebrity contest, "and the contest is with the matua," referring to himself.

Jones then described his daughter discussing what opposition MPs thought of the content that came out of his mouth, "according to the opposition members in Parliament, most of your content flowing out of your mouth has a septic quality to it anyway."

He explained she was referring to the "butter chicken tsunami" comments, which he dismissed.

"Forget about those lapses to do with references of ethnic recipes, because I can talk on your behalf about immigration any time, any day, anywhere, and that's my promise going forward into the campaign leg. "

He said New Zealand First was a nationalist party.

"When we require a reset of immigration, we're not turning it into political football.

"If the leader and the deputy leader, with our traditions, with our background, can't speak authentically about cohesiveness, infrastructure deficit, the need to look after our own people - that is not racist.

"That's what a nationalist party should be protecting. That represents the interests of New Zealander's first," he said, to a round of applause.

He then referenced the Census, saying the Indian population had risen in New Zealand, which had occurred "without anyone campaigning on it, anyone mandating it, and no one planning for it."

"I'm going to call it out every day, every week, every month."

He then addressed the Labour Party, National Party, the ACT Party and the Green Party - referring to Modi's visit - saying "the next time you go to an ethno-nationalist rally to receive a foreign leader, take off your knee pads."

"You represent the New Zealand Parliament."

The essence of the New Zealand Parliament was to protect the economic independence of the nation they serve, he said.

"You don't serve global capitalists."

He then said it wasn't "foundational Kiwi culture" to have foreigners running "slave gangs" in the kiwifruit industry, "never paying tax."

"Put them on the first plane and send them home."

He also said it wasn't foundational Kiwi culture to have a "countless number of young Uber drivers to be paraded through the New Zealand court system with their dreadful attitudes to New Zealand culture."

"Fix that problem up, and then we'll be embracing a better mix and a stronger, healthier dose of immigration," he said, before exclaiming: "That's not racist!"

He said too much of New Zealand's immigration policy had been distorted to "drive down wages, worsen our infrastructure, and no one has called time on it."

Jones then called on his fellow New Zealand First members to "ensure we secure our own futures and get the people we need, not the people who need us."

(This story was first published www.rnz.co.nz)