Hide unfazed by reports of leadership challenge

Rodney Hide (left) and Ken Shirley

Rodney Hide says his leadership of the Act Party is secure despite talk of a challenge.

"I'm not going to spend one minute on this," Mr Hide told National Radio today.

"I'm safe and secure and I'll be number one after the list is released."

Act is to announce its party list on Monday after its board meets this weekend.

Mr Hide's comments follow reports that senior party members had asked Act's whip and former deputy leader Ken Shirley to challenge Mr Hide for the leadership.

The Press said it understood Mr Shirley considered the idea but was unsure if he had enough support.

Act has been performing poorly in the polls in recent months, flat-lining around 3 per cent which would not translate into seats in Parliament in an election.

In June last year Act elected Mr Hide to replace Richard Prebble, the only leader the party had had since entering Parliament in 1996.

At that time the party was polling under the 5 per cent threshold needed to get a seat.

Mr Shirley, along with MPs Stephen Franks and Muriel Newman, also ran.

Mr Hide, who came into Parliament with Act in 1996, has a high public profile for his crusades against parliamentary perks and financial extravagance in government departments.

He promised to take on a more traditional leadership role but has continued to feature prominently in the news -- he was one of the MPs who raised bullying allegations against Labour MP David Benson-Pope in Parliament.

But today Mr Hide said he had been fulfilling that promise.

"I've given major speeches on the direction of New Zealand, major speeches on tax policy, we've launched out tax policy," he said.

Mr Hide said he was targeted by Labour because Act was holding the Government to account.

"Because they know I'm a danger man -- I'm the one that asks the tough questions you certainly don't see them coming out of the National Party."

Mr Shirley told NZPA he supported the "leadership of Act" but would not use Mr Hide's name.

"I have no comment to make at all other than I support the leadership of the Act Party and I will not engage in speculation."

He would not clarify if that support meant support for Mr Hide when NZPA suggested the comment was vague.

"I will not engage in further speculation. My statement ends there."

Act founder Sir Roger Douglas stepped down as party patron last year over the direction it was taking and is believed to back Mr Shirley as leader.

The Press reported former Act MP Derek Quigley and former vice president and member Vince Ashworth were also behind the move.

Mr Ashworth said he had been asked about a coup by senior people in Act and he had always believed Mr Shirley would have made a better leader than Mr Hide.

Act MPs spoken to said they backed Rodney Hide. They included Stephen Franks who said he had seen no signs of plans to dump Mr Hide.

He said party members may have been canvassed on the coup idea but "I don't think they got the slightest encouragement".

Another MP, Heather Roy, said she supported Mr Hide.

He would also be able to count on his deputy, Dr Newman, Kenneth Wang and Mr Prebble.

A general election is to be held sometime before the end of September.

- NZPA