Resolutions but no revolution as National ends its annual conference as divided as ever

There was a degree of heat, but not much light cast on the future of a party still recovering from last year's election thumping

The National Party has just wrapped up the final day of its annual general meeting. There was a bit more drama than usual. Former speaker of the house David Carter resigned from the board before the close of the meeting after failing to win the presidency from Peter Goodfellow, who has held the role since 2009.

Various changes were made to the party rules. A nod to the Treaty of Waitangi as the country's founding document was inserted into the party constitution. There was heated debate on questions of party governance, with delegates opting to keep the board on a short leash following a disastrous election last year.