Campaign Diary: 2 days to go

Compiled by political editor John Armstrong


One down, one to go?


Tuariki Delamere's sacking from his Immigration portfolio raises this question: should Jenny Shipley have fired both barrels and given Tau Henare his marching orders too? Before the campaign he broke the convention of collective responsibility by opposing tax cuts agreed on by the cabinet. Only yesterday he admitted breaching the convention again by telling a Far North iwi to sue the Government over a land sale approved by ministers. "What are they going to do? Take my warrant away in the last week?" he boasted. Well, Tau, look what happened to Tuariki.


Middle man


Winston Peters is now running third in Tauranga, according to last night's One Network News-Colmar Brunton poll. Paradoxically, it may help him. The poll shows Katherine O'Regan on 30 per cent, just one point ahead of Labour's Margaret Wilson. Peters is on 27 per cent. O'Regan hoped Labour would pull out so it could keep the "get Peters out" vote for itself. Wilson now scents victory. But Tauranga-ites cannot be sure who has the better chance of winning, risking a split in the anti-Peters vote. Peters, campaigning relentlessly in his home patch, could squeeze through the middle.


Labour pains


At last, something's gone right for National, if inadvertently. Labour was spitting tacks yesterday after the previous night's Holmes leaders' debate. Labour was annoyed by Paul Holmes' line of questioning. It was even more upset that the advertising segments were chocker with National's ads. Labour says it was told no political ads would be run during the prime-time programme, so did not book any. Television New Zealand says there were no such restrictions.


WHAT THEY SAID


"In New Zealand, we have one law for all." - Jenny Shipley sacks her Immigration Minister, Tuariki Delamere, for granting residency to would-be Chinese immigrants as long as they invest in Maori land.

"It is a weak and empty gesture by a dying Government." - Helen Clark on the sacking.