Political theatre sets scene at Alliance launch

By Chris Daniels

The Alliance, sometimes accused of being a dinosaur, was yesterday the first party to launch its election campaign, with a high-tech presentation.

Thousands of the Alliance faithful from towns around New Zealand appeared on a huge screen at the Bruce Mason Theatre in Takapuna.

To the strains of Fleetwood Mac's Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow, candidates danced on the stage after a rousing speech by leader Jim Anderton.

In an attempt to counter the perception that Mr Anderton holds the Alliance firmly in his grasp, the party made an effort to showcase its MPs, promoting them as credible members of any Labour-Alliance cabinet.

Deputy leader Sandra Lee hosted the event, introducing local candidates from around the country as they were beamed live into the theatre.

Catchy lines were the order of the day for the Alliance MPs, all pushing the "need for a change" angle.

"Imagine waking up the day after the election and nothing had changed," was one favourite. "Under National and Act, this is as good as it gets," was another.

But the big message was the party vote, which the Alliance knows it needs plenty of.

"Helen Clark has said that the Alliance will have only as much influence as the strength of our party vote gives us in Parliament and in coalition with Labour," said Mr Anderton. "That's okay with me because that is the challenge to the Alliance and to the people of New Zealand. New Zealanders want change because the economic experiment of the past 15 years has failed on its own terms."

A future National-Act government would cut payments on superannuation and cut spending on the public health system and education.

"Forty-one days to get rid of the buggers," said Sandra Lee at the conclusion of the launch. "Let's get started."

One Alliance stalwart, Frank Brough of Albany, said he was impressed with the new-style campaign launch. "The swinging music was quite good," he said.

The Green Party and Act launch their campaigns next week, followed a week later by National and Labour.