KEY POINTS:
Progressive leader Jim Anderton made an unorthodox and brazen pitch to the elderly yesterday for New Zealand First voters to back him.
He made the bid on the basis that the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters might not be re-elected to Parliament after a series of inquiries into donations to his party.
Mr Anderton told Nelson Grey Power that many older New Zealanders had swapped their support between the pair of them.
They recognised that both had strong policy on the concerns of senior citizens, especially superannuation, healthcare and power costs.
"But you have to ask yourself whether you are sure New Zealand First will be back.
"Even if you think Mr Peters is completely vindicated, you will have to accept there is a chance he won't be returned.
"I think after nine terms, I will be."
Mr Anderton's party rarely polls over 1 per cent but he holds the Wigram seat safely. Mr Peters' party has consistently polled higher but below the 5 per cent threshold and Mr Peters will have a struggle to regain Tauranga from National.
Mr Anderton has not been identified with the grey vote to the same extent that Mr Peters has.
The pair were both ministers together in the current Labour-led Government though Mr Peters has been stood down as Foreign Minister.
But they have sparred occasionally, and Mr Anderton abstained on the House's motion to censure Mr Peters for non-declaration of a $100,000 donation from Owen Glenn.
Mr Anderton and Mr Peters also sparred over the former sale of shares in Auckland Airport when Mr Peters was Treasurer and whether Mr Peters did enough to keep them in New Zealand hands.
