Botany byelection candidates fire final shots (+ video)

Jami-Lee Ross. Photo / Robert Trathen

A vote for any Botany candidate is apparently a vote for all the same things: A strong voice in parliament. A good economy. A safe community. Good education.

And who can really argue with that?

But while all the candidates continued to push these slogans on the final day of campaigning before tomorrow's byelection, at last some refreshing points of difference arose.

Act candidate Lyn Murphy, who supports funding for 100 per cent fully qualified teachers in ECE centres, turned her criticism of her own party into a defining stance.

"I don't think any of my opponents would be prepared to go against their parties and speak out and cross the floor. I am."

Candidates finally started firing a few shots at each other today. Labour's Michael Wood called National's Jami-Lee Ross a freeloader riding on the back of John Key's popularity. Mr Ross retorted that Mr Wood comes from Mt Roskill and had no policies of his own.

Actually, neither of them were quick to point out policies of their own, though Mr Wood said locals were concerned about public transport into the city centre and the need for more community facilities.

He spent the morning waving at vehicles from busy intersections, egging on locals to vote tomorrow.

"Traditionally a high turnout is better for the Labour Party and a low turnout is better for the National Party.

"When you talk to people about the issues, or you ask them, 'What do you think about rising prices, what do you think about asset sales, what do you think about cuts to early childhood education', they have views on those issues and those are political questions."

The Labour Party appears to have been quite cautious with campaign-spending, and Mr Wood's face is a glaring omission from his billboards.

Some in the electorate the Herald spoke to had no idea who he was.

"We're not running a big budget campaign," Mr Wood said. "Our focus has been on the ground and talking to people, rather than buying up big media space like National has."

Has the lack of face-recognition hurt his chances?

"I don't think that's the case at all ... people don't vote for your face. People vote for your name and vote for the policy."

His billboards at least carried policy messages, he said, such as about asset sales.

"National's just had a big photo and a big feel-good vote National [message]. National has taken the seat for granted. They're just hoping that their candidate will coast in on the back of John Key, essentially."

When asked if a vote for National was a vote for him or the Prime Minister, Mr Ross said: "The reality is it will be a combination of both

"Certainly National is doing very well and people appreciate the policies of the National-led Government, and if I get support for being a National candidate, I'm very pleased with that as well."

The main issues, for him, were the economy and law and order.

When asked about local issues, he said: "People in the electorate feel the same way as all New Zealanders do.

"Michael Wood spends all his time coming from Mt Roskill to Botany preaching about what he thinks is wrong, but he doesn't have any policies to get things right. He's got no policies."

And what can he add to parliament in addition to Government policy?

"I've always stood up and voiced my opinions on behalf of the people in the community I represent."