Act president has too much power, says youthful rival

Act president Catherine Judd is being challenged for her job by a young Christchurch member who believes she has too much influence and too many conflicts of interest.

The challenge is likely to be viewed as an irritation for a party of only 3000 that is struggling to gain over 2 per cent in polls - and in election year when every party wants to avoid perceptions of disunity.

It is believed vice-president John Ormond, who stood against Ms Judd in 2001 on a campaign of greater democracy in the party, was persuaded not to challenge her this time for the two-year term.

The only challenger, 28-year-old Gareth Turner, is calling for greater transparency in the party.

He cited as concerns that board member Todd Stephenson worked for Ms Judd's public relations firm, Awaroa Partners; that another influential party member, campaign manager Brian Nicolle used to work for her; that she co-owns property with an MP - a holiday property in the South Island that their families have owned together for more than 20 years; and that the board installed Deborah Coddington high on the Act list at a late stage in the process when she hadn't been a party member.

Mr Turner has been active in the party for only two years but says he was encouraged to stand by other members.

"The main concerns by what the members are saying is there needs to be more openness, more transparency, more honesty - basically bring some independence back into the board.

Three of the seven regional representatives on the board are being challenged as well.

Ms Judd said she had good relationship with everyone on the board because it was part of the job and she made a point of it.

She acknowledged that the board did have wide powers but it did not always exercise them. For example, it held a primary for the election of the leader when Richard Prebble resigned.

"It was totally democratic and so is the list selection process.

"There is no steamrollering at all."

Most of her time was spent fundraising or in routine, time-consuming administration for the party.

"It's hardly wielding power. Most of the party work is very unglamorous. We don't sit around veto-ing things. Quite the opposite."

Regarding Ms Coddington's placement, she said it had been a unanimous decision of the board after lengthy discussion and careful, objective evaluation.

"If the right person came along, we'd look at doing that again, if it was appropriate."

Ms Judd's position is not expected to be threatened by the challenge, the results of which will be announced at the party conference in Auckland in two weeks.

Former Auckland mayor John Banks said he has not yet decided whether to stand for Act but said he may have made a decision about his future by the end of March.

"The centre right of politics in this country needs all the help it can get. I have had some very attractive offers from a number of people and more than one political party," he said.

He had serious commercial opportunities in New Zealand and Australia.

"So it's just a matter of working through the issues and taking my family with me," he said.