Sharples impresses but Winston gets laughs from Herald jurors

The party leaders came under the judgment of the Herald jurors last night when

eight members of the regular Weekend Herald panel watched the TVNZ leaders' debate together and offered their opinions.

"Hardly any of them want to answer questions," observed lawyer Brian Gubb half-way through.

"They're all so predictable, but Peter Dunne seems to do well."

That mood changed, as Mr Dunne's well-rehearsed rhetoric drew nothing but a collective groan by the end of the debate.

Although some jurors applauded Helen Clark's strategy to ride the wave of the Exclusive Brethren controversy, retired Aucklander Beryl Bourn thought it didn't deserve a mention.

"Get stuck in mate," added business owner Mark Cooper when New Zealand First leader Winston Peters retorted by reminding viewers of "speedgate" and "paintergate".

Mr Peters was constant entertainment, drawing laughter and assorted grunts from jurors, particularly for his apparent inability to offer straight answers.

"He's Parliament's jester," said retired Stella Isbey - permanent, but of little value beyond a good chuckle.

Jurors were pleasantly surprised by Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, though they laughed when he met a question on Michael Cullen's superannuation fund with a blank face and an admission of ignorance.

At least Hamilton student Clare Ryan found some practical use for the debate.

"I think I'm leaning towards National ... Brash seemed to make more sense," she said.

Fellow fence-sitter Alex Jamieson disagreed:

"Brash worries me."