Winston's 'interesting' coalition talk

JOINING UP?: Could Labour form a coalition with NZ First?

Kieran McAnulty, Labour

Mr McAnulty says it was an "interesting" announcement but said this was not the same as declaring a preferred coalition partner.

"All it is doing is re-emphasising the fact that they would be happy to work with Labour."

He said NZ First had come under some criticism for not declaring a partner and potentially going either way.

He called the announcement a "technical move" to allay concerns of potential voters that would like to see NZ First go with Labour.

"That's still on the cards," he said.

"The whole three years, Winston Peters has been gathering support on a platform of criticising the government."

He said feedback from his doorknocking, since NZ First candidate Ron Mark entered the race, is that those who considered themselves NZ First supporters would vote Mr McAnulty as their candidate.

"But tick Ron Mark for the party vote, because he can get in on a list.

"Wairarapa has always had a strong New Zealand First support base."

He said Labour is pushing two ticks for Labour, but when he knocks on doors and people tell him they support other parties, he can still talk about the candidate vote.

"That's the beauty of MMP."

In his opinion, Ron Mark was "very unlikely" to win the electorate but could make it on the list.

Mr McAnulty's masters degree in 2011 was on political positioning under MMP.

Ron Mark, NZ First

Mr Mark says there is a "serious fear" in the community of a Labour and Greens coalition.

"I'm getting this message from conservative Labour voters."

He said people failed to grasp that if you had policies that affected farmers, it would affect the wider community in a place like Wairarapa.

"I've had young farmers, extremely environmentally conscious farmers.

"They are trying to mitigate the effect of farming on the environment."

He said the "zealous approach" to farms, including fencing off streams and riparian planting, was worrying farmers.

"A farmer asked told me it would cost him $300,000 for fencing and riparian planting.

"What the greens might see as a stream, farmers might see as a paddock filled with water.

"There is a fear of what a zealous Green Labour government will inflict on rural New Zealand."