Raging Bill pulls no punches in a fight for life

By FRANCESCA MOLD

In the world of political stunts, it was a biggie.

Lurching around a boxing ring, trying desperately to avoid the instant humiliation of a knock-out live on national television, ranks right up there with the riskiest political antics of all time.

"Raging" Bill English's performance was a bit like a typical parliamentary session. He spent much of his time ducking and weaving, taking a bit of a pasting but landing the odd sneaky jab.

In spite of last night's tough-guy image he retained the politician's gift of the gab.

"Politicians are all talk. It's time to do something. Boxing's a lot cleaner than politics - there's nowhere to run and no spin," he said before the bout.

But for English it never really mattered whether he won or lost the Fight for Life boxing bout.

He had already achieved the ultimate political payoff in return for getting "the bash".

It's called name recognition. And English proved that politicians will do anything to get it.

New Zealanders have watched plenty of other politicians attempt silly stunts for the sake of publicity.

We've watched National's Nick Smith bungy jump off a 60m platform over the Aorere River. The same MP, with colleague English, kayaked across Cook Strait, making sure the cameras were there to record their triumph.

Helen Clark raised Labour's profile during the Taranaki/King Country by-election by floating over rapids in an inner tube.

North Shore's 18-year-old Paula Gillon appeared scantily clad on a billboard and called herself the "naked politician" to secure a seat on the council. Act leader Richard Prebble threatened to skydive into Auckland's Easter Show before pulling out because of bad weather.

Most people accept English's willingness to get violent for charity was motivated by a sincere desire to raise awareness of suicide.

He was spurred on by a poignant private loss.

His 15-year-old nephew killed himself five years ago - a tragedy which touched him deeply.

English says his decision to fight came out of a conversation with organiser Dean Lonergan. It was never really discussed within the National Party.

"I thought I'd have a small role in a large event. It's turned into a somewhat larger role," he laughed just hours before the fight.

But putting aside modesty and private interests, English's foray into the macho world where sweat and blood is sexy is also one of several recent attempts to woo voters with his rugged kiwi man image.

First he played "Southern Man" at the opening of a Wellington pub, dressed in oilskins, pulling pints for punters. Next, the party launched the glossy National Times magazine featuring English tending the BBQ while wife Mary watched adoringly.

Then it was the Man of the Year calendar that shows English snorkelling, playing rugby, ripping around on a farmbike and manning the phones at work.

Last night's attempt at proving English is a man of many talents was not without political risk.

Television footage of him flailing about in panic, being pounded by his opponent could have been run continuously throughout the election campaign along with endless cliches about his party being "on the ropes".

His involvement could also be a potential turnoff for female voters who see a clear link between suicide, violence and young men taking risks with their lives.

But on the flip-side, the event has given English an opportunity to seduce a kind of voter not easily reached by National in the past. The young, brown, working-class man who loves rugby league and Lion Red.

But even English admits that while the boxing may have opened up new opportunities, he still has to offer these potential new voters policies that interest them.

English knows he doesn't have much time left to get on with the real work of developing a party with election-winning policies. He is also acutely aware that the real fight of his life is yet to come.