Campaign diary: Clark likes 'em to think on their feet

Picture? What picture?

Helen Clark's press secretary, David Lewis, tried some subtle censorship when the Clark roadshow hit Blenheim's Cuddon Engineering yesterday. As the cameras clicked, Lewis positioned himself behind the PM and went up on tiptoes to try to obscure a "girlie" picture on the wall. The scantily clad pin-up was obviously a favourite with the team at Cuddon - she was on a calendar for 1997.

Do you want chips with that?

At a Grey Power meeting in Blenheim, Italian-born Piero Rocco asked a confusing question that the press took to be about funding education. Science and Technology Minister Pete Hodgson asked: "Is that blue cod, or snapper and blue cod?" "Blue cod," Mr Rocco said and sat down, leaving the whole room wondering if they were at a town meeting or a fish and chip shop. Turns out Mr Rocco was asking about research into fish he was doing at the local school.

Should be world famous

At 2 pm yesterday, Hauraki mayor and company director Basil Morrison hosted Bill English for a tour around the Chinese-owned fizzy drink factory Kiwi Bottlers 96 Ltd. His recommendation to the leader was Zest, a brew that adds a bit of aloe vera, ginseng, lychee and honey to sparkling mineral water. "They say it's very good with gin," Morrison reported. "It's a pity it's so early in the day," quipped English.

Incest in the ranks

Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard got tongue twisted at a meet-the-candidates meeting in Ponsonby when quizzed on a lack of police resources. The problem rested with "incest", said Tizard. In quickfire time she corrected herself by saying, "I mean 'Incis' [the failed police computer system]," but it was too late. The 60 or so mainly women were in raptures. Tizard stole the night, unwittingly upstaging Act candidate Deborah Coddington, who argued that teachers were more important than lawyers.

Now that's not nice

Act leader Richard Prebble had a bit of a go at Winston Peters yesterday after the NZ First leader launched an imitation pledge card claiming Labour would raise cigarette taxes. Mr Prebble pointed out possible self-interest, considering Mr Peters is a smoker. Mr Prebble also said cigarette taxes had gone up under each Government, including when NZ First was in coalition.

Going live

Act invited the media to a press conference yesterday to tell them they were no longer needed. The party was launching its new e-politics strategy, which includes a live press conference each day via the internet. Mr Prebble said using the web would stop the media from filtering or editing his party's policies and give him a one-on-one dialogue with voters. The party believes using the technology will help them pick up votes from thousands of New Zealanders living and travelling overseas.

Where the leaders are:

* Helen Clark visits the Hawkes Bay.

* Bill English campaigns in Christchurch.

* Green co-leader Rod Donald talks about Superannuation on the Kapiti Coast.

* Act's Richard Prebble holds a public meeting in Auckland.

* Winston Peters campaigns in Dunedin.

* Progressive Coalition's Jim Anderton attends Wainuiomata Grey Power meeting.

* United Future leader Peter Dunne is in Waikanae and Wellington.

* The Alliance's Laila Harre is at the INVOLVE 2002 Youth conference.

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