The National Party seems intent on trying to stage manage its way to electoral victory on November 26, judging from the secrecy surrounding the party's Mainland conference held in Christchurch during the weekend.
The Otago Daily Times was banned from most of the sessions, including meal breaks, a traditional time to sample the feelings of members during a political conference.
Also, it was not elected delegates that banned the ODT, it was paid headquarters staff. One staff member told this reporter the conference was all about the delegates; patently untrue given the little time delegates had to debate any issues.
Even a remit calling on local government to stick to its core business of water and sewerage was held behind closed doors. Only two remits were debated across the weekend.
Special permission had to be gained from Canterbury-Westland president Roger Bridge for the ODT to be allowed to attend the lunch, although delegates were not to be quoted.
Senior delegates, some of whom had been attending these regional conferences since the 1970s, were dumbfounded at the rule change which apparently came as board directive.
Southern region chairwoman Ele Ludemann was not aware of the media ban when approached.
The was excluded from an address by Justice Minister Simon Power, who was a bit funny about being reported at conferences, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee (no reason given), the policy break-out groups, the remits, a presentation on MMP by Selwyn MP Amy Adams, an address by Dunedin list MP Michael Woodhouse, addresses by two new candidates, afternoon tea, and regional annual meetings.
On Saturday, the only open sessions were an address by Finance Minister Bill English, in which he joked about some of the Budget decisions, including blaming Prime Minister John Key for some of the record fiscal deficit - and a carefully choreographed Mainland Ministers Forum, with written questions.
Yesterday, media were banned from president Peter Goodfellow's address, an unheard of situation during the time of previous presidents, particularly Judy Kirk, who invariably made herself available for interviews.
Young National reports were also off-limits, as was a campaign overview by Communications Minister Steven Joyce. Mr Joyce's address was the one expected to be closed because it involved sensitive campaign planning.
Even the closing address by Invercargill MP Eric Roy was not made available.
Only the address by Mr Key and a presentation by Young Nationals were open to the media yesterday.
It is obvious the only message New Zealand voters will hear from National this year will be carefully crafted and come from either the Prime Minister or Mr English. No dissent will be allowed.
By having closed sessions, delegates will be forbidden to talk about any of those issues outside of the room.
One of those issues was the prospective rise of Act New Zealand in the polls, now former National leader Don Brash is in charge. Act has a strong party vote in rural Canterbury and is expected to further eat into some of National's vote as farmers look for lower tax rates.
Labour is not immune from the secrecy syndrome. Only four of its congress sessions in Wellington over the weekend appeared open to the media.
They were addresses by president Moira Coatsworth, deputy leader Annette King, leader Phil Goff and Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly.
