Policies not written with help of American billionaire, says Brash

National leader Don Brash says he has discussed policies in general with American billionaire Julian Robertson but has not written any based on what the American has told him.

Dr Brash said today it was an "outright lie" to say National's policies were being written in Washington.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard yesterday said National's lead fundraiser was an American and that National policy was influenced by the United States.

Mr Mallard said: "What we do know ... is the campaign structure and the campaign lines are being run by people who are based in the United States."

He refused to name the American he said was raising campaign funds but said: "There's no doubt that the lead bag man is an American".

It was reported today that man could be Mr Robertson, whom Dr Brash says is a personal friend of his.

"I have a lot of respect for Julian Robertson but whether he's collecting money for the National Party, I haven't the faintest idea," Dr Brash said today.

"We discuss policies in general, absolutely. He's very much concerned about the direction of New Zealand. He wants New Zealand to succeed. He's a person who spends half his time in New Zealand. I understand he spends about six months a year in New Zealand."

Mr Robertson could not vote in New Zealand.

Asked whether he had written any policy on the basis of what Mr Robertson had told him, Dr Brash told National Radio: "Not any policy at all."

Dr Brash said Mr Mallard's claim National's policies were being written in Washington was "an absolute outright lie and he knows it".

Mr Mallard today said the point he was making was that National's policies were not those of an independent, sovereign country.

For instance, it would see whether the United States wanted the anti-nuclear ban gone before putting it to a referendum.

He also referred to an old comment by National's former defence spokesman Simon Power that National would support its close allies the Australia, the US and Britain "when and wheresoever our commitment is called upon".

The party disowned Mr Power's comment when he made it last August and said it was a personal opinion.

- NZPA