Jonathan Milne: For voters it down to a matter of trust

They'll be carrying their brollies to fend off light showers in some parts of the country; enjoying a mild spring day in other parts. They'll trickle into schools, community halls and marae, on their way to brunch, or the mall, or taking the kids to pre-season cricket training.

This Saturday, New Zealanders - perhaps close to a record 2.5 million of them - will pick up the marker pen in the polling booth after deciding one important question.

Who do I trust?

This election has come down to more than just mercenary self-interest in how much the punters will get in their hip pocket; more than old-fashioned party allegiances; more than tactics.

And, to quote the Exclusive Brethren, praise the Lord for that.

There are few things to which Helen Clark and Don Brash react more than attacks on their integrity.

Clark has described the attacks for signing an artwork she did not paint as the lowest point of her prime ministership, and she was further wounded by public incredulity at her insistence that she did not notice her motorcade hitting speeds nearing 180km/h. For the second election in a row, National has sought to make her integrity - or alleged lack of it - a defining part of its campaign.

National felt secure in Brash's profile as a slightly naive but honest broker from outside the scurrilous sphere of politics.

But this week that blew back in his face, with allegations he lied in initially denying knowledge of Exclusive Brethren brochures attacking Labour and the Greens. He later acknowledged a meeting with the Brethren businessmen in which they had told him they would be distributing leaflets, but said he had no idea that the attack leaflet was their one.

Like Clark, he responded furiously to accusations he lied: it cost him the argument when he foolishly over-reacted to taunts in TVNZ's election debate.

Yet none of the attacks on either leader's integrity has revealed a smoking gun: both Clark and Brash can reconcile their actions and statements, at a stretch.

National is attacking Clark's integrity this weekend with criticism of Labour's pledge card being billed to the taxpayer, and questions about public sector education campaigns defending NCEA.

Labour will this week return to its initial marketing theme: Helen Clark's trust, values and credibility.

But this mudslinging over the leaders' integrity is valuable in that it raises the legitimate question of how much they can be trusted to deliver on their exorbitant campaign pledges.

While we often flippantly dismiss politicians' honesty and integrity, we actually measure them against a standard far higher than that to which we hold ourselves.

Both parties have at times struggled to reconcile explanations of how they can afford their promises.

Clark and her deputy, Michael Cullen, had insisted the public pantry was bare and that tax cuts were entirely unaffordable, and suddenly discovered billions more out of which they could fund roading projects, wipe the interest on student loans, and dramatically boost the Working for Families payments.

Brash and his finance spokesman, John Key, have had difficulty explaining their plans to cut tax by slashing some alleged morass of bureaucratic waste, while at the same time increasing government borrowing.

Political integrity is about more than just the ability to maintain a consistent public line under inquisition: it is about the whole package. It is about honesty, but it is also about strength, honour, leadership, the willingness to front up and take responsibility. It is about statesmanship.

Either Labour or National will lead the next government. So as you furrow your brow in the polling booth, ask yourself: who do you trust?

- HERALD ON SUNDAY