Brash key to Act gaining more support: Newman

Former Act MP Muriel Newman believes the party will get fresh impetus and increased support under new leader Don Brash. A public and ruthless coup ended on Thursday when Mr Hide resigned as Act leader, endorsing Dr Brash to take his place.
Mr Hide made the announcement at a joint press conference, backing Dr Brash's leadership after Dr Brash had joined the Act Party.
A party caucus meeting was held on Saturday to endorse Dr Brash as leader.
Dr Brash, 70, announced last weekend that he wanted to step into Mr Hide's role to stop the party being wiped out in the November 26 general election.
Ms Newman, a Whangarei-based Act Party list MP for three terms until 2006 and former deputy leader of the party, said Dr Brash would inject fresh momentum to Act.
She is no longer a member of the party, resigning after leaving Parliament to set up the New Zealand Centre for Political Research.
"When I was in the party we always felt that we had the potential to be a party that could get 10 per cent of the vote, or more. At one stage we had almost 9 per cent," Ms Newman said.
"Over the last few years the party has definitely been underachieving."
She credited that partly to Dr Brash rolling Bill English as National Party leader in 2003.
"There were a lot of people who felt the ideas espoused by Don as leader [of the National Party] were more Act than Act itself. I know that over the years Don Brash was approached by Act to become a member of the party, but he chose to join National," Ms Newman said.
"When he became National leader [Act] people saw the bigger party as having more opportunities to put those ideas into action. But he didn't win the next election.
"I think Don Brash as Act leader will be the catalyst for the party increasing quite dramatically in the poll ratings."
However, Labour and the Greens are warning New Zealanders to brace for extreme right-wing policies under a deal between National and an Act Party led by Dr Brash.
Labour leader Phil Goff said the change would have a devastating impact on the lives of middle- and low-income New Zealanders.
"John Key has described Don Brash as an extremist."
"Don Brash wants savage cuts to Government spending, including health and education. Working for Families and interest-free student loans would be gone and there would be a wholesale sell-off of valuable state assets."
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said Dr Brash's extremist views on race relations should be of concern to all.