Cullen drops big spring election hint

Don Brash

Finance Minister Michael Cullen tipped a September election yesterday but Prime Minister Helen Clark would not be drawn on the date.

"We are not about to queer the fiscal pitch just for electoral gain," Dr Cullen told the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in an aside from his notes.

"With an election four months away it's very tempting to promise goodies. Those who promise large goodies tend to be in Opposition."

Asked whether this confirmed a September election, Dr Cullen said Helen Clark set the election date.

But he said he was planning for Parliament to sit until August 11.

Helen Clark, questioned at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce post-Budget luncheon, refused to give a clear steer on the day.

"I've always said I wanted the Government to go full term. Of course that is [open to] many interpretations. The anniversary of the last election is the 27th of July and the last possible date is the 24th of September."

Later she rejected a suggestion that that led to uncertainty for business, a view shared by the chamber's chief executive, Michael Barnett.

"It would be a good-to-know thing within the next month or so," he said.

July 30 is the first Saturday after the "full term" and is a good prospect as it falls before controversial and distracting prosecutions over Helen Clark's speeding motorcade last year.

National leader Don Brash said he was ready for any date.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the election would be a three-horse race.

"While we are starting from behind both tired old parties, we have momentum and policies on our side and we have the stomach for a tough campaign."

He said National and Labour had consistently shed support during election campaigns.

Mr Peters also attacked the Herald over its story last week about New Zealand First MPs informally promoting him as a possible leader of a National-New Zealand First coalition - a repeat of what had been floated with both National and Labour in 1996.

Mr Peters suggested that it was National MPs who were raising that possibility.

"The Brash experiment has failed and, devoid of any real leadership alternative, National is now trying to poach off New Zealand First.

"It is understandable why some in National are scoping around for new leadership given Don Brash's recent performances."