PM yet to set date for election

The Prime Minister says a date for the general election has not yet been settled. Responding to a report that the country would go to the polls on July 30, Helen Clark told the Herald that the date "has yet to be determined".

When it was, the country would be advised "in good time".

Speculation about the date sparked a flurry of political reaction. New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters said it was a disgrace that Helen Clark would not confirm a date because it affected business people trying to plan ahead.

"(They are) waiting around for the Prime Minister who is trying to get an advantage. It's bad for this country's economy," he said.

United Future Leader Peter Dunne advocated a system similar to the United States where presidential elections were always held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years.

"All this speculation reinforces the need for New Zealand to have a fixed election date," he said.

ACT leader Rodney Hide said his party had been preparing for a July 30 election for weeks based on the way Labour had been pushing legislation through Parliament.

"And the economy is turning turtle, the chickens are coming home to roost for Labour."

National leader Don Brash questioned the need for a July election.

"There's no reason for Helen Clark to go early unless she is panicked by the prospect of an economic slow-down and rising interest rates," he said.

But in Kawerau, the Prime Minister was more interested in outlining her Government's record in office with more than 150 people aged 50-plus at the Town Hall.

Her hour-long speech, made without formal notes, was chatty in tone and the crowd seemed attentive, clapping often.