National not giving much away

National's annual conference was short on new policy but full of signs the party wants to put a friendlier face on some core messages to reach the extra voters it needs to win office.

The weekend conference in Christchurch was the first since the election and leader Don Brash reminded delegates "that was yesterday ... we're not about yesterday, we're about tomorrow".

But despite this, no new policies were revealed, and few fresh ideas were put up for debate.

Senior MPs said it was too early in the electoral cycle, but also appeared determined to move with caution to avoid alienating the party faithful as they repackage some core policies.

One of those MPs said yesterday the bulk of the caucus wanted to take a more centrist approach.

President Judy Kirk said National had to "grow our vote with youth, women, new New Zealanders, Maori and our vote in metropolitan areas".

"If we are to become the government, we have to sustain our vote and make our party five per cent more electable in 2008 ... everything we do, everything we say, everything we think must always be about that five per cent."

First up on the repositioning was deputy leader Gerry Brownlee, who spoke of the huge increase in the number of Maori living in severe hardship, and who hosted a behind-closed doors meeting of policy delegates to urge a broadening of the party's view of the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in any constitutional debate.

He also told delegates National's language on Maori issues should change.

Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins - aware the party's polling shows it well behind Labour when voters are asked about "family" - described National's policies as being "more child-friendly" and "family-friendly".

"There's never been a better time for us to take a very strong family focus," she said.

Law and order spokesman Simon Power, said: "My message to you is that we need to have the courage to shift our thinking, our energy and our resources towards the prevention of crime."

Children being brought up in families without proper guidance needed to be brought "back into the circle".

Agriculture spokesman David Carter hosted a breakfast to consider "how National presents its agricultural policy so it is recognised as being more environmentally sensitive".

After two terms, Dr Brash said, a National government would have built a "multicultural country" where "men and women, young and old, straight and gay, are treated with courtesy and respect".

He warned "those who believe the only way we can win the Treasury benches is by trying to out-Labour Labour" that he would not play ball with such an approach.

He rejected suggestions this was a veiled attack on those pushing a more centrist line, saying he was referring to the fact that he would not be pushed into election bribes like Labour's student loan policy.

"I don't regard being centrist as being stupid ... I'm not talking centre stuff at all."

He said National's five election planks were now four pillars and one foundation, the "one law for all" concept.

There was little overt talk of the leadership, but Dr Brash used his speech to tackle the issue head-on and defend his leadership style.

"A leader is not intimidated by the fact that others will one day have the ability and drive to assume the top mantle," he said.

Ruffling some delegates feathers behind the scenes was the board elections, in which Alan Towers lost his seat to fellow Aucklander Peter Goodfellow.

Some party members saw the change as an attempt to break up a coterie on the board, allegedly supported by former president John Slater, which was seen as trying to wield too much power, including over MPs.