Voters split on options for Epsom

Rodney Hide. Photo / Brett Phibbs

BOTH MEN ARE THE SAME

Tim Sutherland said he would vote "strategically" for either John Banks or Rodney Hide.

"I would look to who is doing better in the polls but I wouldn't have a preference."

The 27-year-old banker described both men as far-right and "the same".

"But I haven't seen what the new party could do," he said referring to the possibility of Dr Brash starting up his own party if his bid for the Act leadership fails.

HIDE HAS BEEN A JOKE

Danny Simms said Rodney Hide had "been a joke ... how he got into Parliament, I will never know".

The 65-year-old businessman said he did not like Mr Banks as mayor of Auckland but did like his work as a Cabinet minister for National between 1990 and 1996.

"If I had to choose between the two, I would have to go Banks.

"Banks has some intelligence," he said.

OREWA SPEECH WORRYING

Susan Warren would not vote for either. The 52-year-old said she would look at the candidates put forward by the Greens and Labour. She was concerned about Dr Brash getting back into national politics after his 2004 Orewa speech.

Ms Warren said many supporters of Dr Brash were Act voters and she was worried that if he was associated with that party, Act could get more votes.

"We will end up again with racially divisive policies."

FAITH GONE

Anne Hilliard would also cast her vote with someone other than Mr Hide or Mr Banks.

The 65-year-old receptionist has faith in Dr Brash's financial views but that's about where her faith ends.

Asked why, she said: "The marriage break-up". Ms Hilliard said she didn't want her children to know but she had previously voted for Mr Hide.

CRITICAL OF SUPER CITY

Maurice Lubbock was "not all that fond of John Banks" but he would still vote for him.

The 55-year-old engineer was critical of the new Super City council which he said had not maintained council services. He blamed the changes on Local Government Minister Hide.

"What's he done apart from put his foot in it?" He said the bus lanes were not being policed and "infrastructure is going from bad to worse".

BANKS A CHRISTIAN MAN

David Christie has never voted for Act or National.

"I've always voted for Green or I might go back to Labour."

But the 44-year-old unemployed man said he would vote for John Banks in the Epsom electorate as Mr Banks was a "Christian man". "He was trying to save money for the ratepayers."

TASTE OF THE AREA
* The Epsom electorate covers some of the same neighbourhoods as the local body area of Orakei.
* At last year's local body election, the Orakei voters gave John Banks 22,422 votes.
* His next closest competitor was Len Brown with 9793.