Campaigning Labour passes the hat around

Labour is going cap in hand to the public for money, auctioning off Dover Samuels' trademark stockman hats.

Mr Samuels confirmed yesterday that he had sold at least four of the pre-loved hats at Labour Party fundraisers, raising from $1000 to nearly $4000 each.

They have been popular at candidate Steven Ching's infamous fundraising dinners for Auckland's Chinese community, where audiences with the Prime Minister also sell for $1000-plus.

The party is hoping to build a $2 million war chest for the election, looking increasingly likely to be in September.

Mr Samuels admitted the Australian-made Akubra hats could get a little smelly, so he sold them off after three or four months' wear.

"The ones with the bullet holes get the most interest," joked the former Maori affairs minister.

"I've only got about three of my bloody hats left. Fortunately my wife is Australian and she is prudent in making sure I've always got a stock of them."

He estimated he had gone through about 25 hats over the years: "After I've put carpet cleaner over them a few times, they're ready for auction.

"They're quite a dressy hat and they fit in with suits and formal dress, but it has that outdoor flavour and that's why they're called stockman hats."

Though the hats retail for between $150 and $200, Mr Samuels said there was a demand for his hats after he challenged the Speaker of Parliament for the right to wear them in the debating chamber.

"I argued that in my area it was part of the customary dress for males. I said there was more cause to be suspicious of men who wore wigs, like the Speaker."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY