KEY POINTS:
ACT founder Roger Douglas is gearing up for a possible return to Parliament after being ranked third on the party list, released today.
Party leader Rodney Hide was in the top spot followed by his deputy and fellow sitting MP Heather Roy. Fourth was John Boscawen, ACT campaign
manager in 2005, more recently known for anti-Electoral Finance Act campaign.
It was also revealed that the party would try get more MPs into Parliament by winning another electorate seat - former MP Kenneth Wang would stand against National's Pansy Wong in Auckland's Botany electorate.
He would not stand on the list.
A mystery person will be appointed to position five, which was left blank today.
Mr Hide said "several" people were interested in the spot.
"There are several possibilities none of whom have finally said `yes I can do it' given their work commitments and we're hoping one will eventually emerge and the board will agree."
He said those lower on the list would be keen for the spot but leaving it temporarily open gave the party a chance for another media opportunity and kept options open.
Mr Hide said he was proud to have Sir Roger Douglas ranked so high.
"I would have Roger at number one. However, the board made the decision that it was better to have Roger at number three and make it clear that he was coming to Parliament rather than create a controversy over his list position."
Mr Hide is expected to retain Epsom which would see him return to Parliament with one MP. His party, which has been doing poorly in polls, would need to get a higher percentage of the party vote to get another MP. ACT got 1.5 per cent in 2005.
Mr Hide expected the party vote to be higher because the public knew their vote would not be wasted as he held Epsom. He also thought more voters would turn to ACT as National "have adopted the Labour Party policies" and because of Sir Roger's profile.
"While people want a change of government I think there's a significant number of people who want a change of direction as well."
Mr Hide was asked about National leader John Key's reluctance to consider Sir Roger as a cabinet member under a possible coalition.
When previously asked, Mr Key said: "I am not going to campaign to New Zealanders on a moderate, pragmatic agenda and then sell out to them on a radical right-wing agenda."
Asked whether he meant Sir Roger would not be a cabinet minister under any circumstances, Mr Key replied: "Yes ... on the basis of his radical right-wing agenda."
Mr Hide said ACT policies were not radical right wing. He said reforms Sir Roger led in the 1980s were now supported by both National and Labour.
It was up to voters to decide the make-up of the next Parliament which would affect possible coalitions, Mr Hide said.
There were five women in the top 20 of the list.
Mr Hide said decisions were made by members' ballot and by the board.
He would not say when a decision would be made on the number five spot but said ACT was not legally required to file its list yet.
Candidates from 29 onwards were unranked.
- NZPA
