National sets agenda, despite some hiccups

One of the best things about being on the road during an election campaign is being able to approach total strangers and ask them questions about things they might be thinking about as voting day approaches.

Such was the day in Wellington Central yesterday, with a slight nod towards the eastern boundaries and the Rongatai electorate.

One of the issues people wanted their pulse taken on was National's secret agenda.

Did the party have a secret agenda? I found myself being asked as many questions as I was asking. The first questions were about what was John Key "really like".

Second, where was Prime Minister Helen Clark? Third, what is National doing that no-one knows about?

Given the bungles made by National Party immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith about the size of Asian hands and the need for Pacific Islanders to be trained in personal hygiene, transport spokesman Maurice Williamson's toll road mutterings seemed to pale into insignificance.

But according to the Upper Hutt Leader, Mr Williamson has let slip that National plans to exempt "roads of national significance" from the Resource Management Act.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons leapt on to the story, saying New Zealanders were being left powerless to speak out.

"If National gets its hands on the country, New Zealanders can look forward to a road-building frenzy.

Without the protection of the RMA, communities will get no say about what gets bulldozed for a 'road of national significance'.

"Under this policy, New Zealanders could well wake up one day to find that a National Party pet motorway has been built over their back fence, or right next to their children's school."

National's true colour had been revealed, and that colour was tarmac grey, she said.

National Party leader John Key was interviewed on radio yesterday from 7am to 8.30am by broadcaster Paul Holmes. Before a hand-picked audience of about 50 people, Mr Key refused to be drawn about the likelihood of Dr Smith or Mr Williamson becoming cabinet ministers if he leads the next government.

Chances are they will not be there, or if they are there, they will be in a diminished role, something their majorities as electorate MPs would not normally mean.

But looking at what Dr Smith said, it is almost sure to be reflective not only of what he was told by business people in Marlborough but also of his Rodney electorate.

Watching his delegates at past National Party conferences is a bit like a time warp. They resemble a National Party of long ago. Remember Dr Smith was first elected in 1984; his delegates reflect that era.

It is the same for Mr Williamson and his delegates.

Taking the Pulse has been taken to task by National Party officials in the past by pointing out that at least nine of Mr Key's top tier MPs had been cabinet ministers in the 1990s when cuts were made to benefits and superannuation levels.

But it is true - they were there and they are still there now. Back on the hustings, Mr Key was again having a busy day.

Last week in Dunedin, Taking the Pulse received some criticism for inferring Mr Key was taking a hit-and-run approach to campaigning by using the media to connect with people rather than getting out shaking hands with real people.

That seems to have changed. He has gone from two diary entries a day to four or more. And he held a meeting where 600 mainly National Party faithful turned out to hear him speak.

So where is the Prime Minister? National keeps rolling out policies it says are funded from the Pre-Election Fiscal Update, including the emotional issue of Herceptin funding.

Miss Clark is being interviewed by Mr Holmes next week. Perhaps that will be the catalyst she will use to hit the weekend hustings.

Mr Key proved to be the match of Mr Holmes, who pointed out the National Party leader was wearing a hand-made shirt from London, gold cuff links from Switzerland and a Cartier watch.

Mr Key revealed his underpants were Jockey. Let's hope we do not learn as much from Miss Clark.

Labour was left yesterday issuing statements from Finance Minister Michael Cullen about National's KiwiSaver plans as he talked at Wellington High School, explaining to pupils such things as why we needed money and what effect the financial crisis would have on New Zealand.

Mr Key might not be too happy with the "off message" lines being uttered by Dr Smith and Mr Williamson, but at least he gets the chance to explain National's policy on such things as toll roads and he can look like a chief executive prepared to take some action against errant staff.

National is setting the agenda this week, and has done since Sunday. The Prime Minister needs to step back into the limelight.

Mr Key takes a point.

dene.mackenzie@odt.co.nz

 

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