Bonhomie and jellybeans trotted out for students

Richard Worth meets students on the University of Auckland campus. Picture / Fotopress

In one area at least, Epsom MP Richard Worth (National, majority last election 5619) and Rodney Hide (leader of flatlining Act, but eyeballing Epsom) are on the same level.

In the busy quads of the University of Auckland, both are pretty much ignored unless they plant themselves in someone's path.

It's second semester Orientation Week, when interest groups traditionally tout for members: the drinking club, sports and cultural groups, various religious groups, Labour and Act as well as National.

Worth, 58, is offering blue-and-white jellybeans in small plastic bags: "It gives you an opportunity to go up and talk to someone - and they always like something free and valuable."

The bags, tied with light blue curling ribbon, are attached to postcards: On the issue of beaches, apparently, Labour is "iwi", National "Kiwi".

According to another, Dial 111 for "cabs" (Labour) and "cops" (National).

Worth, all casual bonhomie as he trolls the crowd offering the jellybeans, membership of the National Party ($5) and a grin even toothier than Helen Clark's.

He meets a range of expressions ranging from complete incomprehension to polite smiles, and, occasionally, small talk.

Super-aware of the hovering journalist, Worth has an annoying habit of jocularly sticking an elbow in her ribs when he thinks he's being cosy, which is often.

What are you studying? he asks a gaggle of jeans-clad students. A would-be geneticist discovers that Worth, an Auckland law graduate, likes the telly programme CSI for its popular science.

The top issues in Epsom are, says Worth, roading and infrastructure; law and order; and the economy, which in people's minds covers everything from student loans to tax.

But second-year computer science student Tim Wetherell, 19, who works 25 hours a week on top of full-time study and has a $5000 student loan, discovers that Worth isn't offering any tidbits ahead of National releasing its tertiary education policy.

All Worth can say is that "most students will be delighted" with it.

A first-time voter, Wetherell professes himself unconvinced by Worth, the first politician he has met: "They talk a lot, but I'm not sure if they do anything".

Back at the National stall, fresh-faced first-year student Haydon Howlett, 19, a Young Nat since Auckland Grammar School, says he'd thought the university was a Labour stronghold, but it's been a "blue day", with a trickle of people signing up.

Later on, Worth phones to report that the drinking club stall enrolled just one new member that morning, against National's 20. Well, how about that, he says.


Epsom 2002


Richard Worth, National 13,563
Di Nash, Labour 7944
(2005 candidate, Stuart Nash)
Rodney Hide, Act 7059



Party vote
National 9499
Labour 9328
Act 6652
Greens 2161
New Zealand First 1994