Clark and Brash go head to head

As Helen Clark and Don Brash battle it out in the last days of the campaign, the Herald is bringing you an aid to jog your memory of the strengths and weaknesses of our leaders and the big promises their parties have made during the past few weeks.

Helen Clark

* Once said the United States would never have gone to war in Iraq if Democrat Al Gore had been president. She later apologised.

* Got in a tangle over what she told the Sunday Star-Times newspaper about the Doone affair.Once objected to a boarding house being built near her Auckland home.

* She then objected to a Sunday newspaper which published a map showing where she lived.

* Keen on fostering the arts. Took on role as Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

* Came from a centre-right farming family and moved left.

* Caused comment when she wore pants, rather than a dress, to a formal dinner with the Queen.

* Sat down before Her Majesty during a state dinner.

* Tough on disciplining ministers (think Dyson, Dalziel, Samuels).

* Entered Air NZ cockpit to dress down mouthy pilot.

Don Brash

* Admitted an affair which broke up his first marriage

* Came from a centre-left Presbyterian minister's family and moved right. Has voted Labour.

* Meets Exclusive Brethren but can't always remember the details.

* Was Governor of the Reserve Bank under six different prime ministers

* Has revealed he likes Neil Diamond

* Made that Orewa speech. Then sacked Georgina te Heuheu when she objected.

* Was undermined in efforts to win the East Coast Bays seat at a byelection in 1980 when Muldoon raised tolls on the Harbour Bridge. Social Credit's Gary Knapp won

* Lured onto National list by president Michelle Boag. In 2002, as a newcomer, was granted the fifth slot.

* Lists his hobby as kiwifruit farming.

* Was victim of Labour set-up in Sunday Star Times comparing him to Pauline Hanson

Labour

Tax

* Family tax relief plan, which expands Working for Families to 350,000 families - 60,000 more than the original package. Boosts incomes for most families with children. Announced: August 18. Cumulative cost to 2008-09: $1.338 billion.

Health

* More cataract operations and major joint procedures. Announced August 16. Cost to 2008-09: $242 million.

* Revamp child dental services. Announced August 31. Cost to 2008-09: $100 million.

Education

* Axe interest on student loans to apply from April 1 next year. Announced July 26. Cost to 2008-09: $870 million.

* Extend 20 hours' free early childhood education to private providers from 2007. Announced August 22. Cost to 2008-09: $159 million.

Other

* 250 more community police. Announced August 11. Cost to 2008-09: $62.5 million.

* KiwiSaver savings scheme and home ownership help. Announced May 19. Cost to 2008-09: $588 million.

National

Tax

* Personal tax cuts from April 1, 2006, company tax cut from 33 to 30 per cent in April 2008, and axing carbon charge. Will affect more than 2 million taxpayers. Announced August 22. Cumulative cost to 08-09: $9.4 billion.

* Temporary petrol excise cut of 5c a litre for six months from October 1. Announced September 12. Cost: $30 million (net, estimated).

Health

* Rejig primary healthcare subsidies, boost aged residential care funding, cut elective surgery waiting lists, boost Pharmac funding and replace community services card with a health card. Announced September 6. Cost: $175m.

* Eldercare workers' mileage rebate. Announced August 16. Cost: $60m.

Education

* Student interest tax deductibility. Announced July 21. Cost to 08-09: $270m.

Other

* Law and order package, including abolishing parole for serious offenders. Announced April 22. Cost to 08-09: $600m.

* Additional roading projects. Announced May 25. Cost to 08-09: $1.25b.