Muriel Newman enters race for ACT leadership

12.00pm

Whangarei-based list MP Muriel Newman has thrown her hat into what is becoming a crowded ring for the ACT leadership contest.

Mrs Newman, the party's whip, launched her leadership bid in Whangarei today.

Four of the party's seven eligible MPs are now competing for the vacancy created after Richard Prebble resigned last Tuesday. Mr Prebble, who had held the position since 1996, said Act needed a fresh face to take it into next year's general election.

Today, Mrs Newman also hinted she may take Whangarei National MP Phil Heatley on head-to-head at the next election, a departure from her usual strategy of campaigning primarily for the party vote.

None of ACT's eight MPs hold an electorate seat.

The party has slipped well below the crucial 5 per cent threshold needed for representation in Parliament in recent polls, with much of its support eroded by a revitalised National Party.

Winning a seat would guarantee the party its place in Parliament.

But Mrs Newman said her decision to consider a head-to-head contest with Mr Heatley was essentially because the general public had a greater awareness of her and were better informed to make a decision on Whangarei's elected MP.

In the short term, ACT will hold a primary election before selecting a leader.

Members will vote on who should lead the party, before the party's caucus makes a final decision.

Deputy leader Ken Shirley, perk-busting MP Rodney Hide and crime spokesman Stephen Franks have already confirmed they want the job.

Mrs Newman is the party's welfare spokeswoman and will contest the leadership from that platform.

She said she was standing for the leadership despite the fact she was not personally ambitious.

"Having said that I realise, of course, that we are all ambitious for New Zealand. But I am ambitious for the nation's solo mothers and their children. They can do so much better than being limited in their aspirations by next week's welfare cheque."

Political party leadership was not just about a face; it was about a direction and a vision, she said.

Welfare reform was an issue that neither of the two "old" parties would tackle.

"There are simply too many beneficiaries on welfare. I am standing as a candidate for welfare reform. If I become leader of the ACT Party then we will campaign in the next election for the fundamental reform of the country's welfare system."

Mrs Newman said she did not claim to be better qualified than the other ACT MPs in the primary election. "I have great respect for Ken Shirley's experience. Rodney Hide's media skills are legendary. Stephen Franks is Parliament's most experienced lawyer. They all have leadership qualities.

"As leader I will need all of their skills and those of the rest of the team Gerry Eckhoff, Deborah Coddington, Heather Roy, and of course, Richard Prebble."

Mr Franks will contest the Wellington Central seat in the next election.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)