KEY POINTS:
John Key's log: 30-10-2008
Yesterday began in Auckland doing the usual run of breakfast TV shows before I flew out to Queenstown and then on to Invercargill.
In Queenstown I announced our tourism policy before an audience at a Tourism Industry Association event, including my intention to take the Tourism Portfolio should National form the next government.
Queenstown was an appropriate place to talk about the importance of tourism, the contribution of the industry to the New Zealand economy, and its significance in terms of celebrating this country's scenery, wildlife and people.
After a walkabout and coffee with deputy leader Bill English, I travelled to Invercargill and a public meeting.
The media were awaiting me on arrival to discuss Labour's latest attack on me, the so-called "neutron bomb" over the H-fee.
Instead of governing and focusing on the issues New Zealanders are concerned about - like the economy and law & order - Labour has been trying to dig up dirt again on this 20-year-old issue.
Labour has even got their president Mike Williams on a flight to Australia to go through old court files - in the middle of an election campaign.
But the authorities have all had access to the same information, and agree I had nothing to do with the H-Fee.
Labour doesn't care about that. They are launching an attack because they have nothing to say about the future.
Well, I have.
Today I will be in Wellington and the Kapiti Coast talking about the issues that matter, like the economy, health, law & order and education.
John Key
Helen Clark's log: 30-10-2008
I jumped on board the 10am train from Wellington to Paraparaumu as my campaign headed to Kapiti yesterday.
The trip brought back great memories of my first trip to Wellington by train as a student. I will always remember the excitement building as we got closer to Wellington and we got glimpses of Kapiti's wonderful coastline.
There was also a serious side to my trip. While on board I was briefed by OnTrack and Greater Wellington Regional Council representatives on a major project to widen tunnels between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay.
Widening the tunnels would mean new, larger containers could be transported by train all the way into Wellington. Currently the containers are taken off the trains at Palmerston North and trucked into Wellington. This project will mean fewer trucks on the road and faster journey times on the North Island main trunk line.
This project is one that could be brought forward in Labour's economic stimulus package. It is estimated it could be started within six to 12 months, and would take two and a half years to complete.
I also visited the Hutt Railway Workshops in Moera, Lower Hutt.
Now that the rail network is back in public ownership, and called KiwiRail, it is far easier to co-ordinate projects to improve our rail network.
Frankly, the network was run down through years of under-investment while it was in private ownership and we are busy doing essential work to get it up to scratch.
What to watch out for today: Campaigning in Christchurch.
Helen Clark
