Leaders' debate: It's John Campbell, by a country mile

John Campbell

If speaking time in the leaders' debate translates into votes on election night, New Zealand's next prime minister will be John Campbell.

The supposed time constraints that led TV3 to originally try to keep United Future's Peter Dunne and Progressive's Jim Anderton off the show couldn't hold back Campbell, the show's moderator.

An accurate scientific survey - one reporter trying to record time from two mobile-phone stopwatches - showed Campbell took up 14 minutes 56 seconds of the debate's time, nearly twice as much as the most vocal politician.

Campbell's opening address and introductions alone took up 3m 46s, more time than Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia had through the entire debate (3m 10s).

Though he could not match Campbell, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters clearly won the time battle among the leaders. His various addresses totalled 7m 59s, more than a minute clear of National's Don Brash (6m 58s).

Labour's Helen Clark was next with 6m 29s, though her effectiveness was hard to judge as her reddish coat suspiciously clashed with the colour of TV3's worm - now called the "Reactor".

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons' addresses on energy efficiency had her come an economical fourth with 5m 32s, still less efficient than Mr Dunne (4m 29s), Mr Anderton (4m 24s), Act's Rodney Hide (also 4m 24s) and Mrs Turia.

These figures didn't count the after-match worm analysis on TV3 after 10.30pm - where Campbell was set to figure strongly again.

- NZPA