National supporters urged to overturn the polls

National supporters were urged today to hit the campaign trail and reverse the party's poor polls showing at their party conference in Wellington.

A succession of speakers depicted Labour as soft on crime and Prime Minister Helen Clark as untrustworthy and obsessed with power for power's sake.

The spectre of the party's continuing low poll rating was dismissed as either a mistake or something that could be overturned with hard work.

There was no overt finger-pointing about the party's position with just three weeks to go until the election but party president Michelle Boag defended her "revitalisation" of the organisation.

"We knew it was a race against time, because quite frankly, the process of revitalisation of the party should have started much sooner.

"Not just straight after the last election, but back in 1996 when the quirks of MMP kept us in government when we had lost the confidence of the majority of the voters."

The modernisation of the party -- which she claimed had lifted party membership from 19,000 to 26,000 -- would have to continue.

"The media and the critics are going to tell us that the polls say that all the changes we have made to our organisation are not enough. But I say to you not making the changes we have made to our organisation was not an option.

"Imagine the state of our organisation today if we had not committed ourselves to the huge changes we have seen -- new candidates, new members, new policy, new campaigning techniques, better communications, better funding."

Upbeat speakers told delegates National could still form the next government.

In a short speech today Mr English said he believed the majority of people backed National's policy programme, but they were still to be convinced to vote for them.

The election would be "a test of character for the National party".

Ms Boag to urged the faithful to reverse the trend in the polls.

"The way to win an election is to never let a vote go by. Get out there, get every possible vote for National, and let's take the pundits by surprise in this election."

Some analysts believe potential National voters are drifting towards Labour to allow them to form a government without the need of the Greens.

National's deputy leader Roger Sowry warned supporters: "playing with your party vote will not solve anything. A vote for Labour is a vote for Labour Green policies.

"And I say to any centre-right voters who may be thinking about voting Labour to try to keep the Greens out, on Sunday the 28th of July, you will be very very very upset when Helen Clark and Jeanette Fitzsimons turn out to be very very very good friends."

Mr Sowry told the conference in his speech that "Labour has decided that this election is not about policies. It's not about new ideas. It's not about a legislative programme that they are pursuing. It's all about having control without a plan."

Calls for a tough line on crime and improving the health system got the most positive reaction from the delegates who numbered around 400.

Mr English clearly had the support of those on the floor with even Jenny Shipley, the woman he ousted for the job, joining in applause whenever he was praised.

It is the first time in 12 years National has faced an election year conference in opposition and the reports of the party's regions show life out of government hasn't been easy.

The main point of the conference is to give a media platform for Mr English's closing speech to the conference late on Sunday morning.

- NZPA

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