Business as usual despite election gossip

By HELEN TUNNAH

Parliament's early election obsession has created barely a stir in Auckland as civic and business leaders question what all the fuss is about.

Retailers and community leaders admit it would be good to know when the election will be held, but most report little impact on business from the speculation.

But both Mayor John Banks and Chamber of Commerce head Michael Barnett said it would be good to know the election date to put an end to conjecture, which is not helpful to business.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday would not comment on media-fuelled election speculation, a spokesman said.

Auckland civic and business leaders the Herald spoke to yesterday reinforced a Herald-DigiPoll survey last month which found 58 per cent of those questioned did not want an early election.

The Labour-led Government's three-year term does not expire until November.

But continued controversy in Parliament over the role of Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton, who has been expelled from the Alliance, and the stance of the Greens on genetic modification has sparked debate that Labour might seek to capitalise on its high poll ratings and call an early election.

The most-talked-about dates are July 27, August 10 or October 19.

Mr Barnett said the question of Labour's going it alone, or needing a coalition partner, was a bigger issue for business than the election date.

He said if the outcome of the election was uncertain, people might hold off making investment decisions.

"There's less uncertainty out there [because] there's a feeling there's a second term of the Labour Government coming up.

"[But] will it be a coalition, will it be a single party [government]?"

He said opposition parties could be partly blamed for the speculation because they were continually raising the issue in Wellington.

Mr Banks, a former National MP, said it would be better if the Government just got working.

"There's no good reason for an early election," Mr Banks said.

"What we do need is decisive action from the Prime Minister to tell us, are we in for an early election or are we going the full distance?

"What we need in Auckland is certainty."

Retail giants The Warehouse and Pacific Retail Group said the election chatter was having little impact on the commercial environment.

Warehouse chief executive Greg Muir said there was no political instability evident at the moment, and there seemed to be no reason for an early poll.

"But that's not our call.

"That's for Helen Clark and others to decide.

"I think everybody would feel happier if we knew whether it was going to be November, or whether it was going to happen earlier, but we don't see it as a big issue."

PRG's general manager, retail, John Milford, said the trading environment had not been affected by election talk.

"My personal opinion is, given the political situation, I don't expect this time it matters too much."

One retailer who had seen some fall-off in business because of election speculation was Albany Toyota on the North Shore.

Managing director Andrew MacKenzie said while new-car business was very good, since the election talk had begun and people became more cautious, used-car trade had fallen off slightly.

Political parties have continued their preparations for an early election, and Labour has finalised electorate and list selections.

National party president Michelle Boag said National was bringing its list selection forward from next month, and it would be completed in a fortnight.

The Alliance will draw up its list next weekend, and Act New Zealand will finalise its list in three weeks if an election date has been announced.

The Green Party will have its list prepared by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Labour's Rakaia candidate, Tony Milne, said his party would prefer a later election so it could get more policy out.

Mr Milne said the party had picked all its candidates and its list, and its banners and election paraphernalia were also ready.

It was Labour's preference to hold the election later rather than sooner, he said, giving it time to do its work.