Hubbard a Banks in disguise, says Fletcher

By BERNARD ORSMAN

Christine Fletcher turned feral on cereal maker Dick Hubbard last night by painting him as John Banks in sheep's clothing and saying she was the only candidate opposed to the eastern highway.

Mrs Fletcher, whose poll rating of 9.6 per cent in last week's Herald-DigiPoll survey is well behind Mr Hubbard on 32.2 per cent and Mr Banks' 27.3 per cent, turned her guns on the cereal maker at the first mayoral debate at the Gay Auckland Business Association.

"I am the only candidate opposed to the eastern motorway," Mrs Fletcher told the audience of 130 people. "Beware the weasel words of those seeking to appease you with a 'scaled-down version'."

Mrs Fletcher, whose campaign car has the word Banksruptcy emblazoned on it, denied she was standing as a personal vendetta against her former National Party colleague.

In fact, she praised Mr Banks for his conversion to public transport and directed most of her criticism at Mr Hubbard, who favours a scaled-back eastern highway combined with rail.

Mrs Fletcher, who last month called on Dr Bruce Hucker to consider withdrawing from the race "in the interests of getting rid of Banks", said she was not going to abandon the race to give Mr Hubbard a clear ride.

Dr Hucker pulled out after last week's Herald poll put him on 3.4 per cent.

"I am not about to support a candidate who on the basis of a few vague policy statements has shown himself to be no less a front for the roading lobby than Banks himself," Mrs Fletcher said.

Mr Hubbard, the political novice who has come from nowhere to lead the race to run the country's biggest city, was caught off-guard by the attack as he tried to explain some of his policies, including a review of the "disgraceful" rating system that had resulted in a 42 per cent increase this term for his 78-year-old mother.

Mr Banks quietly focused on his leadership style and achievements, but was roused when Mr Hubbard raised the possibility of an underground railway system connected through the suburbs, including under the Waitemata Harbour to the North Shore.

Mr Banks said it was ludicrous and a "very loopy idea" costing at least $25 billion, even though he himself raised the long-term possibility of a rail link between downtown Auckland and the Hibiscus Coast on Tuesday.

Each of the candidates was asked what diversity meant to them at the gay gathering. Their replies were:

Mrs Fletcher: "It is recognising every single person who lives in our city. I stand by my track record. I have been proud to be part of the celebrations and events in Auckland and I stand by [the] Hero [Parade]."

Mr Banks: "We celebrate diversity very well in Auckland City. We have got 181 ethnic groups in Auckland and we treat them all equally and fairly."

Mr Hubbard: "We are not only talking about diversity but we are also talking about tolerance and the two are intrinsically linked."