Labour and National launch campaigns in Auckland

5.30pm - by ANNE BESTON and NZPA

A month out from polling day, Labour and National kicked off their election campaign launches in Auckland today.

National held theirs at the North Shore Events Centre, the same venue party leader Bill English used for his "Fight for Life" boxing match in aid of a group fighting youth suicide three weeks ago.

But there was no sense National is fighting for its life this election, with Mr English appearing relaxed and confident in front of about 700 supporters.

One of those supporters was his 79-year-old mother, Norah.

After a grand entrance marked by small explosions that set hibiscus flowers tumbling from the ceiling of the North Shore Events Centre, Mr English issued Miss Clark a genetic engineering (GE) ultimatum.

"I can give the commitment that National would vote with Labour to defeat the Greens on GE," he said.

"National and Labour agree on lifting the GE moratorium. End of story. That makes the Greens irrelevant."

The Greens have vowed to withdraw support for any government that lifts the moratorium on GE. It is due to be lifted next October.

They have said they will vote against Labour on crucial confidence and money supply votes in Parliament if the moratorium is not extended, a move which could bring down a minority government.

Mr English said it was an "empty threat".

"If they bring down a Labour-Green coalition, New Zealand gets what it needs, a National-led Government," he said.

Mr English spent a good deal of his speech attacking the Greens, labelling their GE stance "greenmail" and saying their transport policies would see Auckland roads in "greenlock".

In a meeting that rarely lifted off, a run through of policies by Mr English hit its highest point when he touched on law and order.

His promise that "National will lock up the bad criminals longer to protect the community, that's why we have a policy of life means life for the worst," drew the biggest cheer of an afternoon which was a little flat.

Meanwhile, across the Harbour Bridge at Auckland's Aotea Centre, the ejection of two anti-GM protesters couldn't spoil the feeling of a party on its way to election victory at the Labour Party launch.

Party faithful greeted leader Helen Clark and husband Peter Davis with a standing ovation, but there was no sense of a victory already won as the Prime Minister reminded the audience there was hard work ahead if poll results were to be turned into a "compelling" election victory.

"Now is no time for complacency," she told them.

About 800 people gathered at the Aotea Centre and the campaign launch was kicked off by Auckland band Stellar.

Labour Cabinet Ministers were then roll-called to the stage as a haka was performed.

The Ministers sat behind the Prime Minister as she delivered a steady-as-she-goes message with another "commitment card" of promises as the party did for the last election.

"We stake our reputation on being steady, reliable, predictable and progressive," she said.

"With Labour there will be no mad roller coaster ride, and no giddy destabilising change."

The pledges on Labour's "commitment card" also held no big surprises and most of the spending and policies have already been well flagged by Labour.

If re-elected on July 27, Ms Clark said a Labour-led Government would double the number of apprenticeships, get more teachers into schools and guarantee current superannuation for everyone into the future.

Family Support payments and family tax credits would be reviewed, she said. The Government would also appoint a "Parenting Council" to give advice to the Government on family issues.

Labour would also continue to work "collaboratively" whether it was a majority or minority Government.

No Government could survive without partnerships in Parliament to guarantee confidence and supply and Jim Anderton and his party would work with Labour to ensure that, she said.

But in an obvious swipe at potential coalition partner the Greens and their stand on genetic modification, Ms Clark said there were "others who would like to hold our Government to ransom over a single issue".

When passion on a single issue became destructive of a Labour-led Government, "then that urge to destroy is not only unreasonable but also bizarre", she said.

Earlier, anti-GM protesters gathered outside the Aotea Centre with banners and leaflets and at least two made it into the auditorium. Both were swiftly ejected.

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