Peters running racist campaign, Prebble alleges

ACT leader Richard Prebble today accused New Zealand First of running a racist election campaign.

Prime Minister Helen Clark had been silent on anti-Asian comments by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, Mr Prebble said.

She should make it clear where she stood on the possibility of a post-election coalition with New Zealand First, he said at a press conference.

Miss Clark has several times said some New Zealand First policies were "anathema" -- a detested thing -- to Labour.

"New Zealand First is running an openly racist campaign," Mr Prebble said.

"Every New Zealand politician knows that in our multiracial country a desperate politician can always play the race card.

"Everyone, including Helen Clark, knows that is what Mr Peters is doing."

Mr Prebble cited two interviews as backing his view.

In one, Mr Peters said New Zealand "was bringing in the third world ... 93 per cent of people who came here in the year to April were Asian".

"I don't believe this country can handle this ethnic mix in that proportion ... it's extraordinarily dangerous."

Miss Clark has said her preference was a majority government with Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition.

Her back-up option was a minority Government seeking votes from other parties on confidence, a situation she has been in since 1999.

She has never shut the door on a coalition with New Zealand First.

Mr Peters has been portraying New Zealand First as a responsible centre party, a coalition alternative to the Green Party.

While ACT had also criticised the Government's immigration policies, it was based on "careful research and reasoned arguments", Mr Prebble said.

"Helen Clark is failing the most important test of leadership ... it took no courage to criticise Jeanette Fitzsimons and whether the GE moratorium should be extended by 18 months," he said.

"It does take courage and moral leadership to speak out against ... racism."

ACT would not join a coalition that included New Zealand First, he said.

"This is an issue that is to me personally a bottom line one," he said.

Mr Prebble is married to a Solomon Islander, while high-profile ACT MP Rodney Hide has a Chinese wife.

- NZPA

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