Peters promises a vote for NZ First won't be wasted

Winston Peters arrives on the Harley-Davidson. He explained later he was the pillion passenger because "it's a good way to travel".

He arrived on stage on the back of a Harley-Davidson, and he finished the launch of his election campaign to the sound of Queen's We Are the Champions.

He lambasted both National and Labour and gave the media a good bollocking as well.

About 850 of the party faithful packed the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna for the launch and got sterling Winston Peters - an old campaigner with a new slogan, "A man for a change".

There were no red or blue phones. It appears the fascination with who Mr Peters might get friendly with after the election if given the choice was only a media preoccupation.

The public were smarter, he told the audience, and "waking up to the possibilities that MMP offers them".

NZ First was not here to prop up either National or Labour, and the benefit of a longer campaign was that more people would get a chance to see how alike the two parties really were.

There were no secret deals with National or Labour, and NZ First was "here to get the best deal for those who support us".

"The only deal we are making is with you, the people of New Zealand."

MMP was about parties bargaining for policies that the public had supported them on.

Mr Peters offered "this iron-clad guarantee: Your support and your party vote will not be wasted. There will be no surprises."

"Post-election will be about securing the policies we campaigned on, not about pursuing power and the baubles of office at any price."

It was good enough for the audience, with the exception of a lone protester, whom Mr Peters warned officials against removing, noting it was a public meeting.

Mr Peters went on to outline the party's five core policy areas, the closest he will come to indicating his bottom lines in post-election negotiations.

There was law and order and the pledge to double police numbers within five years, and then there was immigration with Ahmed Zaoui, terrorists and Iraqis.

Auckland Muslim Hanif Patel, who recently demanded Mr Peters front up and discuss allegations about local extremists, got a serve, which prompted the protester to call for Mr Peters to do just that. "Don't worry, Sir, I will," Mr Peters barked.

The Government's so-called PC Treaty agenda got its usual run through, and Mr Peters drew head-shaking intakes of breath when he asked "how come the average Maori in Australia is earning more than the average white person in New Zealand?"

Lastly came New Zealand jobs.

The Free Trade Agreement with China under negotiation was like "you trading me $5 but having it cost you $20 to do so".

"It makes no sense to us to enter such deals."

About this time Act Party leader Rodney Hide was standing up in Parnell calling on Labour and National to rule out a coalition with Mr Peters for his "racist and xenophobic attacks".

Mr Peters had a line ready, saying Mr Hide was suffering "recognition hunger".

Prime Minister Helen Clark used Mr Hide's challenge to have a dig at Mr Peters. "It's far from clear whether NZ First will be in a position to influence who goes into government," she said through a spokesman, referring to the party's recent drop in the polls.

Mr Peters dismissed earlier suggestions by Helen Clark that he had run out of steam as "wishful thinking", saying his party had yet to peak in the polls - although they were pointless things anyway.

Outside the venue was Paula Wagstaff and her "bye bye Helen" T-shirts.

Asked afterwards why he was on the back of the Harley rather than driving it, Mr Peters said "because it's a good way to travel".

NZ First's core policy areas:

* Immigration.
* Senior citizens and the Golden Age card.
* Law and order.
* Treaty of Waitangi.
* Making NZ's interests paramount.