Act claims National planning holidays backdown

Act leader Rodney Hide predicts that National's next big "u-turn" will be on the issue of four weeks' annual leave, and that it will no longer oppose it.

National insiders say that its policy is more likely to allow employees and employers to negotiate whether to take the fourth week, or take an extra week's pay instead.

But that is no change on what leader Don Brash stated publicly in November last year.

Mr Hide made his prediction on his personal blog site saying: "You heard it here first. National's next big u-turn? Four weeks' annual leave."

He denied last night that it was unfriendly language by what is meant to be a friendly party.

National had decided to cosy up to Labour, he said in reference to National's decision to support the so-called Cullen superannuation fund "and they have said there will be some more".

The law extending the statutory minimum three weeks' leave to four weeks is due to take effect in April 2007.