Labour eyes Coromandel as capital's line-up shifts

By Eugene Bingham

Labour says it has not ruled out endorsing Green party leader Jeanette Fitzsimons in the race for Coromandel.

As the Alliance's Phillida Bunkle withdrew from the Wellington Central electorate yesterday to boost the centre-left's chances of beating sitting MP and Act leader Richard Prebble, the Labour Party hierarchy was watching developments in Coromandel.

Campaign manager Mike Williams said Margaret Hawkeswood would contest the seat, but other options were open.

"The bottom line is the candidate will not be withdrawn, but I certainly don't think the option of an endorsement has been ruled out."

However, Mr Williams thought Jeanette Fitzsimons' chances of winning the seat had been "beaten up."

"Coromandel is an entirely different situation [to Wellington Central]."

With Phillida Bunkle withdrawing, the way is left clear for Labour's Marian Hobbs to go head-to-head with Mr Prebble. National agreed some weeks ago it would not stand a candidate to accommodate Mr Prebble.

Phillida Bunkle accused National and Act of making "backroom deals," but claimed her decision to withdraw was made alone.

"Someone had to take the initiative to restore effective choice to the people of Wellington Central," she said.

"There has been no pressure on me at all, or on the Alliance. The only deal here is an open and direct one between the people of Wellington Central and me."

The Alliance says it posted out 22,000 letters to Wellington Central voters last week asking for their views on whether Phillida Bunkle should withdraw.

Phillida Bunkle said "more than 1000" people responded, with an overwhelming number saying they would give the Alliance the party vote if she withdrew from the electorate.

Mr Prebble called the withdrawal an act of desperation.

"What has happened to cause today's u-turn? The realisation that it is Act that is raising the real issues and positive solutions."

He dismissed the survey of voters as "bogus," claiming the decisions had been made by Alliance leaders.

"Judging by the feedback to my campaign committee, the Alliance has just increased my majority."

Mr Williams said Marian Hobbs would win the seat now it was a straightout fight.

Meanwhile, an Auckland woman says she is standing in Wellington Central as a protest against "deal-making" between the major parties.

Business analyst Marion Smith lives in Whenuapai, although she has a daughter who lives in the electorate.

"I'm fed up with parties manipulating the democratic process," said Marion Smith, who chose to stand in Wellington Central because that was where Parliament was and because of the so-called deals between the four major parties.

Her campaign in Wellington would involve distributing leaflets and attending shopping areas to spread her message.