Brash keeps cool over Orewa reaction

Don Brash (right) talks with Pencarrow stud owner Philip Vela. Picture / Paul Estcourt

It's seriously muggy as Don Brash's car pulls up to the Karaka sale yards so he throws off his jacket and dumps it on the back seat.

His chief of staff Wayne Eagleson has been sweltering in his as he awaits his boss' arrival and immediately peels his off too. Relieved.

Every day is a sales day in politics, but yesterday the political heat was already evaporating around the National leader.

Contrary to the past two years, this "day after Orewa" is just another day.

There are no television cameras following the leader, little demand for a political pitch and therefore the formalities of the suit, Dr Brash has apparently decided.

While he momentarily turns heads at Karaka, it's the horses people are dedicating their attention to.

And that's just fine with the National team.

The media coverage has been scrutinised. There's the inevitable grumbling over some commentary.

How can he be expected to be more aggressive in front of a Rotary audience, Dr Brash wants to know?

But overall - given there was never a plan to come up with a blockbuster this early in the electoral cycle - it's adjudged positive.

It put Brash back out there. Everywhere. Albeit briefly.

The focus on the "leadership" must rankle, but it's laughed off as par for the course for an Opposition leader.

Helensville MP John Key turns up at Karaka late, having left his keys behind at a radio station where his leadership aspirations were at the top of the question list.

His late arrival at Orewa Rotary Club the night before was interpreted by some media as a snub - a sign he's after Dr Brash's job.

He laughs that off too, blaming his Navman. He's always late, he adds, as he tears off his jacket and tucks into crayfish and a glass of mineral water.

His no carbs and no booze (between Monday and Thursday) diet, aimed at losing 8kg, started yesterday.

Dr Brash and fellow blueshirts - Port Waikato MP Paul Hutchison and Hamilton East's David Bennett - are already eating.

They're being hosted by Pencarrow stud owner Philip Vela in a small marquee, with what look like 30 or so fairly unremarkable people.

Afterwards Mr Key reels off the names of four or five of them and calculates how many billions of dollars they're together worth.

Dr Brash, the only person in his group who is not dripping in sweat, admits he's not been historically horsey, but says his appreciation of the industry developed a couple of years ago.

It seems to coincide with the time he became the National leader.

He keeps a respectful distance from the frisky beasts parading past him, but wonders worriedly with industry insiders whether Winston Peters will honour his pre-election racing policy pledges.

There's limited traction here however, as Mr Peters, the Racing Minister, has already trotted around Karaka stressing they will be honoured.

A racing reporter asks whether Dr Brash is a wink and a nod man like Mr Peters and he says "no", he's "very much a look 'em straight in your eyes kind of politician".

What did you mean then when you said the social fabric - woven with Western values - could be undermined by immigration, the Herald asks?

But Dr Brash is determined not to be derailed by detail. He's made that mistake before.

Nobody wants to talk about the Orewa speech at Karaka anyway.

People are talking about the Kiwi syndicate that just bought the second-most expensive yearling sold in New Zealand. Not recessions.