KEY POINTS:
National leader John Key will warn supporters against complacency in his opening comments to the party's annual conference tomorrow.
National goes into its election-year conference in Wellington riding high in the polls, with most showing a lead of at least 15 points over Labour.
Mr Key said while
the sustained lead was good news it presented its own dangers. He intended to spell that out to delegates.
"I want delegates to focus on the fact that there is only one poll that matters and that is on election day," he told NZPA.
"It'll be a very strong message that there is no room for complacency. The hard work lies in front of us and nothing should be taken for granted."
In 2005 a late Labour comeback in the vote count was put down to the mobilisation of large numbers of voters in heavily populated parts of South Auckland, who otherwise may have struggled to get to a voting booth.
Mr Key said he wanted to ensure his delegates gave supporters the message that if they wanted a strong National government they needed get out and vote, no matter how far ahead the party was in the polls.
Party president Judy Kirk also today said a strong "grass roots" campaign was essential with the election far from a foregone conclusion.
National not only has to beat Labour, but it has to win enough votes to form a stable government without relying on too many parties to carve out a majority.
There are also many in National who are concerned about having to rely on NZ First leader Winston Peters, who is embroiled in a party funding scandal.
Mr Key said he was still prepared to negotiate with Mr Peters but would expect him to explain any outstanding matters relating to his party's funding if he was to have a ministerial role.
Mr Key will give his main speech, which will contain some new economic policy, on Sunday morning.
As the election nears, National is facing growing calls to release more detailed policy and explain how it will pay for it.
It has announced several major U-turns in the past year including adopting Labour's student loans and Working for Families policies and seems set to do the same with KiwiSaver.
That has led to accusations it has become a Labour clone.
But Mr Key said National's supporters were realistic about the reversals and there was still enough difference between the parties especially in areas like National's promised reform of the Resource Management Act.
"I don't think the country is crying out for radical change...but we've got a very clear view about economically where we want to take New Zealand and how we might achieve that."
About 700 delegates are expected at the conference.
- NZPA