Election 2011: Weary Key ends campaign with takeaways

Labour Party leader Phil Goff (left) and Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Simon Baker

Today is the final day of the campaign ahead of tomorrow's election. New Zealand Herald reporters are with Prime Minister John Key and Labour Leader Phil Goff as they tour the country.

The John Key bus arrives at Kumeu Valley Estate, Helensville, to his wife Bronagh and the party faithful, including party president Peter Goodfellow.

"It doesn't feel like it was five weeks ago that we had a Rugby World Cup," Mr Key told the crowd.

"We've shaken tens of thousands of hands and taken 20,000 photos.

"Tomorrow when they go to the polling booths they're going to decide the shape of New Zealand for the next three years.

"We don't need the Coalition of the Unwilling to the left of us, trying to out-spend each other."

He said National was looking to make history tomorrow night.

"I think you know the number we'd like to poll."

He thanked Campaign Chair Steven Joyce, who is also Transport Minister.

"This guy really gets his kicks from roads. He was virtually on one knee begging to keep his job. Steven, I will think about it."

Finally he thanked Bronagh.

"I haven't been home for about three years ... but I certainly haven't been home for four weeks. But it's great to come home and know you and the kids are there to support us and I couldn't do it without you."

And with that, the campaign trail for John Key came to an end. He plans to spend the evening with his family, including his sister who has flown over from England, with takeaways and a wine.

And to relax.

On the trail

Key arrived in Taupo this morning to a cafe full of supporters and local MP Louise Upston.

He mingled, had photos taken, and ate a hot dog off the barbecue for breakfast.

Today was the last day of the campaign, and Mr Key said he was feeling a combination of excitement and exhaustion.

"It's been a long campaign and a long year when you go back to the Christchurch earthquakes, everything from the Rugby World Cup to the Rena.

But I'm really happy with the way the campaign's gone. They're always quirky and they're quite often tough. With luck we'll get our voters out tomorrow and get a good result."
He said the main message was still the economy and stable government, and he warned against voter complacency.

"In the end, it's always possible we lose to that three, four, five parties to the left of us.

"We've got to make sure our voters don't get lulled into a false sense of security just because we're doing well in the polls."

Campaign chair Steven Joyce, who joined Mr Key on the bus tour this morning, said he was "happy-ish" with the campaign, which Mr Key lead from the front.

"Obviously the Prime Minister is very strong and he's got a good record ... He's a great chairman of the team."

He did not disagree with the suggestion that National had run a boring, safe, no-frills campaign.

"It's been a focused and disciplined campaign, which is a different way of saying it.

"There's no room for big spending promises. There's no room, frankly, for flashiness, so by definition it has to be steady as she goes."

The campaign would be a success if National could form a Government after tomorrow's election, he said.

Mr Joyce said he was looking forward to relaxing tonight.

"I'll probably just go to sleep, I suspect. My daughter got me on a promise to have a spa with her tonight. She's four and she's been waiting for that for a while."

Labour has kicked off the last day of the campaign, unveiling a "Not for Sale" over the dam in Mangakino.

Undecided voters key for Labour

Labour has kicked off the last day of the campaign, unveiling a "Not for Sale" over the dam in Mangakino.

Labour leader Phil Goff's last day will focus on opposing state asset sales by way of a bus tour of several state-owned dams and power stations.

He told supporters he believed Nationals' plans would eventually go further than minority sales in four energy companies and Air NZ.

"We've got 32 hours for New Zealanders to decide whether or not we keep our assets."
His wife Mary, who grew up in Mangakino, is also on the bus. Mr Goff said her father helped build the dam.

He said he was not dispirited by new polls showing Labour struggling to get to 30 per cent.

There was still a significant number of undecided voters and he was confident they would be convinced by Labour's message.

He refused to state a target vote for Labourn saying he was hopeful to get enough to form a Government.

Asked if he would stand down if Labour lost, he said he had not thought beyond tomorrow and was intent on doing his job of securing votes today.