English spirits high despite polls

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

Bill English faces his first conference as National Party leader today in defiantly good spirits, despite the parlous state of the polls and a slightly embarrassing visit to Taranaki yesterday.

"It gives me a platform and it's a chance to get the activists and give them a real boost and a fire-up - that's what they need at this stage of the campaign," Mr English said yesterday.

He plans to announce the party's student loans policy during his speech tomorrow at what will be a mini-conference in Wellington to save time and campaigns funds.

He is philosophical about yesterday's NBR-HP Invent poll, conducted by Amour Insight, which puts his party on 25 per cent and Labour on a record 55 per cent.

National polled 30.5 per cent last election.

If he had the first week of the campaign over again, he would not do anything differently, he said.

But next week voters will see a greater focus from him on trying to win back supporters who have deserted National for Labour to keep the Greens from power, he suggested yesterday.

Mr English's morning in New Plymouth illustrated well how hard it is to discredit the Government, let alone position National as an alternative.

Fitzroy Yachts managing director Peter White-Robinson was only too willing to show Mr English around his new boat-building facility, where a $15 million, 37m monster sloop is being built for an Australian client.

He is after all, a National supporter and donor.

But he said he would also be very keen for Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton to be returned as Minister of Economic Development.

And he has donated $250 to Mr Anderton's Progressive Coalition.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Finance Minister Michael Cullen were also in Mr English's face during a video presentation by Venture Taranaki, a regional development agency, of a recent successful entrepreneurial contest for youngsters.

Mr English had a congenial meeting with about 40 Te Atiawa tribal members, who say their Treaty of Waitangi negotiations are being held up by the Crown and interference by Labour Maori MPs.

Giving urgency to treaty settlements is a key policy plank for National.

Mr English said the election was about issues, and they were beginning to run against Labour:

Health service cuts such as those at Kaitaia Hospital.

Further unrest in the education sector over the latest pay offer to teachers.

Revelations of a possible health tax and increase in petrol tax.

Law and order, as the Government's new sentencing law takes effect.

The paintergate inquiry finding a case of fraud against Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Although he accepted the police decision not to prosecute the Prime Minister, Mr English has begun to exploit the findings in an attempt to undermine her credibility.

"If you sign a pledge card that says no new taxes and three or four days later senior members of your Government reveal plans for more taxes, then Helen Clark has a credibility problem.

"We know that signature is worth nothing. We know she is embarrassed about being asked whether she signed the pledge card."

National Party president Michelle Boag is likely to take a low profile at the conference. Her speech is in closed session, ostensibly to maintain campaign confidentiality.

But she may be the target of criticism for what has been an ordinary campaign.

Strategists want to use the conference to focus on Mr English.

After the party launch on Sunday, Mr English toured Auckland, the Coromandel, Christchurch, Nelson and New Plymouth.

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