Old campaigner's advice to rookie MPs still holds

By FRANCESCA MOLD

New MPs are being advised to "breathe through your nose" as they come to terms with the culture shock of Parliament.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and United Future's Peter Dunne held their first caucus meetings of the new session yesterday.

Both leaders are anxious to avoid the situation that developed in 1996 when New Zealand First suffered credibility problems after a series of embarrassing gaffes by new MPs.

Sir Keith Holyoake's advice to new National MPs when he was Prime Minister in the 1960s and early 70s was to breathe through their noses, which meant watch what you say or, even better, say nothing.

Mr Peters said yesterday that New Zealand First had learned from experience.

"That's why we've got the tightest, most cohesive caucus in this Parliament by miles, as you will see over the next few months."

He had warned his new MPs that they would need to learn fast.

"They've got themselves six months to learn this job. This is a caucus which needs to be brought into the loop very quickly as to what it is we campaigned on and how we can advance that in Opposition."

Mr Dunne was coy about what advice he gave his new colleagues yesterday.

But he said the United Future MPs recognised they had a big learning curve ahead.

Sir Keith's "breathe through the nose" advice was certainly something he would talk to them about.

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