Party leader namesakes take it all in their stride

By PAULA OLIVER

The Clarks and Englishes have spoken and they don't care about the date of the next general election.

The Clarks and Englishes of New Zealand - picked randomly from the phone book - barely flinched at news of an early election.

"I don't think the date really matters, it won't make any difference to the country," Tauranga's Kathy English mused, completely at odds with her National Party namesake Bill, who fumed that there was no reason for a "snap" election.

She said her family of four was undecided.

"It's going to be hard. I'm a small business owner and Labour has done nothing for business. But at the same time we have no faith in National, and absolutely no faith in Bill English. We are flummoxed."

Val Clark of Dannevirke said the date was a little earlier than she had expected but it did not matter.

She lamented the quality of candidates. "These days you can't trust anyone - there seems to be a lot of skulduggery."

Elsewhere, the Clarks and Englishes used phrases such as "not too perturbed", "I don't really mind" and "it's good that there is a date" to describe their feelings about going to the polls.

But the political namesakes were a bit more cagey when it came to revealing how they would vote.

"I've got no idea really. You'll just have to wait and see," said Richard English, a Hamilton builder. "It's one of those things that sort of sneaks up on you and then you assess everything on the day and vote."

Molly Clark, retired of Te Kuiti, said she had a major celebration looming on July 27.

"I have no idea [who to vote for]. Except that I can't stand Helen Clark."

Not so the PM's namesake Christine Clark, a caregiver of Whangarei: "Yes, I'll be voting for Helen Clark. I voted for her last time. I think she's done a good job."

Feature: Election 2002

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