Smith looks safe but rivals strong

By Wayne Thompson

To many Rodney residents, MP Lockwood Smith is a local boy made good who relishes his role in the world free trade spotlight, sings at their concerts and, for a charity auction, gives the shirt off his back.

To others, he is a senior minister of a Government unresponsive to their struggle to make ends meet on fixed or falling incomes.

Whatever they feel about Dr Smith, he is set for re-election. Most of his opponents admit they are chasing votes for their parties.

On paper, National has a majority of 6000 votes. But Dr Smith's tally will be dented by the popularity of three prominent women opponents.

Rodney can reward a strong, organised candidate, as the Alliance's Mike Lee showed last election by polling second and doubling his party's vote. He is not standing this time.

Hibiscus Coast residents will have a soft spot for Independent Jill Jeffs, of Orewa, who took 7000 votes in last year's Rodney District Council elections.

Given the strain that Rodney's rapid growth is putting on rates, she will also win favour with her promise to support in Parliament any party that advances the interests of the district.

Rural voters are fertile grounds for Act's Penny Webster after her five years as president of Auckland Federated Farmers.

The Green Party's Sue Bradford has perhaps the highest profile of the challengers. She is a staunch anti-Apec campaigner and opponent of policies that harm the unemployed and beneficiaries.

Her small farm at Hoteo North is typical of a score of Green enclaves in Rodney.

The Alliance's Mike McEnaney had to withdraw at the eleventh hour. The Professional Firefighters' Union president faced being stood down from work for the length of the campaign and reluctantly stepped aside. A new candidate will be selected today.

NZ First's Anne Martin is worried about the hammering that rural towns have suffered and wants better access for farm businesses to Government development funds. The part-time teacher also wants more teachers in rural classrooms.

The depth of disillusionment over the Government's wage-indexing of pensions has impressed Labour's Mark Domney. That feeling may yield votes to the party but it will have to share them with Jill Jeffs, a Grey Power stalwart.

Another hot issue is Telecom toll charges, particularly between the Hibiscus Coast and Auckland.

Dr Smith says he does not take his electorate for granted and will put a good case based on what is best for Rodney. Time for talk will be cut, however, by overseas trips for his trade and tourism portfolios and travels in support of colleagues.

One of his strengths, he says, is that he has the clout to call up most senior officials to sort out constituents' problems.