No revelations from retiring MP

She might be retiring as an MP in November, but Heather Roy mainly stuck to what sounded like well-rehearsed answers at a political forum in Dunedin yesterday.

Her interviewer, University of Otago political scientist Dr Bryce Edwards, remarked the three-term MP was being "diplomatic" about Act New Zealand's policies, and urged her to ditch a "well-rehearsed" speech about the country's health needs.

Asked why Act was "failing", the party's former deputy leader said it depended on a person's definition of failure.

Dr Edwards, who is interviewing a series of politicians before the election in "Vote Chat", was keen to get Mrs Roy's take on what he saw as Act's shift to the middle ground, away from its ideological starting point.

Dr Edwards compared Act with its 1980s precursor, the New Zealand Party, which was far more liberal, especially on social issues.

Mrs Roy, a social liberal on issues such as drugs, alcohol and euthanasia, agreed the party was a mix of social conservatives and social liberals, but had not intended to be a "twin" of Sir Bob Jones' 1980s party.

Parties were made up of "personalities" with differing views, but she acknowledged the party could have been more "consistent".

Act remained committed to the free market, believed in vouchers for education and wanted personal saving plans for healthcare to give people "choices".

She said small political parties typically were less extreme once involved with the ruling party, as Act was with the National-led Government.

She would not be drawn on the ructions in the Act caucus last year, repeating assurances she did not try to topple then leader Rodney Hide, with whom she said she differed on strategy, rather than policy.

Asked if Epsom candidate John Banks, a social conservative, was a good fit for the party, she said time would tell, but he was popular and had support in the party.

She did not think Mr Banks' possible position after November 26 as Act's sole elected MP would create a power play with party leader Don Brash. The leader of a small party had enough to do without necessarily being an electorate MP.

Mr Brash was the right person to lead the party.

A "20-year battle" for voluntary student membership would culminate in the Bill passing its third and final reading on Wednesday.

Voluntary membership restored a "basic human right" to students.

It was about promoting "transparency and accountability", which student unions lacked.

She rejected a suggestion the Bill was undemocratic because submissions were 98% opposed, saying most were in the form of a "petition" and were not representative.

The Labour Party did student unions a "disservice" by filibustering earlier this year, as that delayed the law passing, and unions planning for how to deal with it.

- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz