Labour expects better fight from Nats this time

Labour candidates go to campaign school this weekend as the party gears up for the election.

The annual conference -- called a congress in election years -- runs for three days in Wellington with most of it in closed session as strategists tune up candidates for the battle ahead.

Party president Mike Williams says it will be harder this time.

Although he doesn't rate National's new leader Don Brash a big threat, he knows the party learnt hard lessons from the last election.

"We can't believe the National Party will be as shambolically disorganised this time as they were last time," he told reporters yesterday.

"We don't believe we will be that lucky again."

In the 2002 election, National focused on winning electorates instead of focusing on the party vote.

It will not make that mistake this time, and Dr Brash has repeatedly said the campaign will be for the party vote.

Mr Williams will speak at the congress tonight, and tell activists and candidates not to be complacent.

He said yesterday the party was in good shape, the Government was in good shape, and Labour held a significant lead in the polls over National.

"But there is a huge amount of instability and political volatility out there," he said, using Dr Brash's Orewa speech last year to explain how quickly fortunes could change.

However, he said single issue strategies, like using race relations, seemed to quickly run out of steam.

Mr Williams acknowledged Labour will face a threat from the Maori Party in the seven Maori seats it holds.

"There was no contest last time, obviously there will be some kind of a contest this time," he said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark will speak to the conference on Saturday afternoon, and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen will close it on Sunday.

- NZPA