National sharpens up on health, environment to snare female vote

National is working behind the scenes to put more emphasis on its health and environment policies in what appears to be a pitch for the urban and female vote.

Leader Don Brash wants "much greater" emphasis on the two policy areas than was seen at the last election and has acknowledged his party has not always been clear about its care for the environment.

Environmental policy will be the "single biggest" issue discussed at the MPs' all-day caucus meeting today and a "major" discussion paper on the topic is likely to be released next month.

In addition, health spokesman Tony Ryall is heading overseas during the parliamentary recess to look at different health approaches in other countries.

National's support among female voters was not as strong as Labour's in the lead-up to last year's election and it has spoken openly of wanting more of their votes.

Asked if health and the environment were policy areas that might achieve this, Dr Brash said they possibly were, adding that health was most probably more relevant to women because of their primary responsibility for children and aged parents.

He thought the environment was of particular interest to urban voters. "Urban voters want to feel a party which aspires to the Government of the country cares about the environment - of course we do but we haven't always made that obvious."

But while Dr Brash wants to highlight the two areas, he has also made it clear the party is not backing away from some other more controversial policies - in particular its stance on the Treaty of Waitangi.

He said National needed to make it clear that although it believed in one law for all, it did not mean it was anti-Maori "because we are not".