Green MP to run nude after Hide wins Epsom

Keith Locke

Green Party MP Keith Locke today quashed fears he would be the first MP to break a 2005 election vow -- he will run nude in Epsom as promised.

Mr Locke said he would do the nude dash if Act leader Rodney Hide somehow won the blue riband Auckland seat.

Mr Hide romped home yesterday, prising the seat off National incumbent Richard Worth.

Mr Locke told NZPA he had made a promise and would not risk his political credibility by backing out of it now.

Planning was already under way.

"We haven't set a date, we've got preparations to do in terms of choreography ... it will be a colourful political event," he said.

"It will be artistic and it will involve body paint."

He said he was disappointed Mr Hide had won Epsom to prevent Act being wiped out of Parliament.

He did not like the "American-style" campaigning Act adopted "but I accept the voters' judgement".

Mr Locke rejected any suggestion that he might have inadvertently helped Mr Hide when he proposed his nude outing.

Perhaps Epsom voters opted for Mr Hide in order to see Mr Locke in the buff?

"I don't think the voters were encouraged by voyeuristic tendencies. I give them more credit than that."

- NZPA