KEY POINTS:
Act leader Rodney Hide has put out an appeal to National's right-leaning supporters by saying Act was needed to ensure any future National Government was not simply Labour with another face.
In his first major election year speech at the Remuera Rackets Club, Mr Hide said National leader John Key was "understandably" adopting Labour policy to get votes.
"He is aiming to win votes from Labour simply by offering a new, fresh face. His promise is not to change Labour Party policy but simply to tweak and tinker Labour Party policy. That means what we have now is as good as it gets."
He said policy was what counted, "and National is promising not to change it".
"This is where Act's opportunity to improve our country's fortunes lies."
Mr Key's adoption of Labour initiatives, including interest-free student loans, the Super Fund, the first part of KiwiSaver, and state house income related rents has left Mr Hide valuable wriggle room on the right of the political spectrum.
Mr Hide told the Herald this gave Act the chance to have some impact.
"It's clear electorally John Key has had to adopt Labour Party policy and offer a change of government rather than a change of direction. That creates an opportunity for Act. Not everyone is comfortable with high spending and high taxing, and heavily regulating government."
Mr Hide also used the speech to emphasise the importance of the Epsom electorate for his party, saying his win of the previously safe National seat in 2005 had ended Act's history of "teetering on the edge of oblivion".
"Act has been haunted in past elections by the prospect we wouldn't make it past the 5 per cent threshold and party votes for Act would be wasted."
Mr Hide won the seat from National's Richard Worth in 2005.
Mr Worth has again been selected as the National Party candidate in the seat - his reselection seen by some as a tacit nod that the party is content for Mr Hide to keep Epsom.
However, Mr Hide was reluctant to criticise his rival, saying he had worked well with Mr Worth and Green MP Keith Locke on local issues.
Mr Hide pushed tax rates and red tape as major issues for Act in the campaign, saying New Zealand had turned into "a monster nanny state".
"We oppose big bloated government sticking its nose into every facet of our business, family and personal lives."
He said his red-tape cutting Regulatory Responsibility Bill - currently before a select committee - was one way to cut back on bureaucracy faced by business.
Act also wanted to cap tax revenue and required a public referendum before Government could raise taxes, policies which were now in a members' bill in the ballot.
Mr Hide also addressed his make-over, saying he realised he had to stop being "the parliamentary pitbull" after he was introduced to a classroom of school children as "their MP".
He said the 2005 campaign made him realise he was also unfit, and since then he'd lost 40kg.
