Nat MPs told to back Brash

National's hierarchy has used the party's annual conference to warn MPs they need to get behind leader Don Brash.

The last time the party held its conference in Christchurch - in 2003 - Pakuranga MP Maurice Williamson launched a furious attack on then-leader Bill English. This year the only hint of dissent came from a rowdy lunchtime protest directed at Wayne Mapp's bill proposing a 90-day probation period for new employees.

About 200 union members and protesters - including half a dozen members of the ultra-right-wing National Front - chanted and waved placards outside the convention centre, while inside screens were erected to shield the attendees as they ate lunch.

Dr Brash said he was "very disappointed" to see the protest against what he called a moderate bill.

"If you care about the people on the margins of the workforce - the unemployed, Maori, youth, women wanting to come back to the workforce, the migrant who doesn't speak English very well - support this bill," he said.

Party president Judy Kirk stressed the importance of a united front.

"We must never, ever forget that lack of team discipline destroys political parties," she wrote in conference notes. "Freedom of thought and freedom of expression are great things. But so is self-discipline."

Yesterday she told the conference that National had recently been more critical of itself than of its opposition - and she reminded delegates that "the enemy is Labour".

"We have to be disciplined and focused, mindful that perceptions of disunity are just as harmful as disunity itself," she said.

Dr Brash said the president's comments were "just a reminder to people that it doesn't do the party any good at all for people expressing concerns when no concern exists".

But he said he would not use his keynote speech this morning to deliver a further disciplinary message. Instead he is expected to warn party members against resting on their laurels after nearly wresting power from Labour at last year's election.

A TV One/Colmar Brunton poll on Friday night showed Dr Brash was still the preferred leader among National voters, with 37 per cent support, ahead of John Key's 23 per cent.

As the conference began it was revealed that the man appointed to improve Dr Brash's image had quit.

Former Big Gay Out organiser Garreth Spillane resigned on Friday after questions arose over his employment background.

In other business, finance spokesman John Key told delegates it was an "open secret" that Labour would introduce "cynical and belated" tax cuts before the next election.

Nick Smith called for the creation of a Minister of Infrastructure and an accompanying ministry to counter the influence of the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for the Environment.

Deputy leader Gerry Brownlee seized on the recently published Living Standards Report - which showed an increase in the number of New Zealanders in severe hardship - to say the Government's "economic transformation" agenda was failing.

Mr Brownlee also made light of National's recently publicised plans to make the party appear cooler by associating itself with youth brands such as Dawn Raid.

"I was going to turn up this morning with my beanie or perhaps a hat turned to the side. Because I'm cool," he said. "But I'm a gentleman and I don't wear a hat inside."