Campaign Diary: 11 days to go

Compiled by political editor John Armstrong

Rust never sleeps


"I have nothing whatever to win or lose, as a politician, on the result of this election." Apart from his pride. And someone else unravelling nine years of hard work. Sir William Birch will be out of his job within the month. But that's not stopping him railing against the evils of Labour and the Alliance to anyone who'll listen in the meantime. The old warhorse is kicking around the hustings like a young buck, despite calling it quits as an MP. Sir William hates the thought of National losing power, even if he's not around to wield it. Yesterday he was busy speechifying on National's tax cuts and putting some pre-release spin on tomorrow's Reserve Bank statement, which could prompt an unhelpful pre-election hike in interest rates.

Getting roasted


The least scientific but most aromatic of opinion polls is being conducted in Auckland's St Lukes shopping centre. Customers in the food hall are invited to pop a coffee bean into one of several tall jars representing the major parties. Labour is well ahead (the mall is in Helen Clark's electorate), but "don't knows" are coming second.

Duelling shears


Harry Parke, husband of Greens' co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, has challenged Burton Shipley to a shearing competition when the Prime Minister visits the Coromandel electorate tomorrow. Unfortunately, Burton Shipley is otherwise engaged. Just as well, perhaps. Parke is a former professional shearer who has clipped over half a million sheep. The Shipley skills looked a trifle rusty when he proudly sheared a couple of sheep in front of other leaders' spouses during Apec.


WHAT THEY SAID


* "I think Mr Kidd is more likely to be dog tucker at this point in time, don't you?" - Winston Peters recalls Doug Kidd's 1997 prediction about NZ First in the light of National's current poor polls.

* "I pretended it was Jim Anderton's head." - Act's Rodney Hide has the Alliance in mind as he hammers stakes into the ground to re-erect his vandalised hoardings.

WHERE THEY'LL BE


Jenny Shipley visits West Auckland hospital services; Helen Clark is in Hawkes Bay; Richard Prebble unveils Act's rural policy in Taranaki; Jim Anderton is campaigning in the Wairarapa; Winston Peters holds meetings in New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hastings and Napier; the Greens launch their economic manifesto.