Labour 'distracted' by dirty politics - Key

PM John Key and Cycling Action's Barbara Cuthbert at the opening of the Grafton Gully cycle trail. Photo / Herald on Sunday / Michael Craig

Prime Minister John Key has kicked off the final two weeks of the campaign with his first campaign visit to the Epsom electorate, saying the polls were showing the public had moved on from dirty politics.

Mr Key said there was two weeks to go until Election Day and three polls out last week, including the Herald DigiPoll survey, all had National at about 50 per cent while Labour was declining.

He said he believed that was because Labour had been "distracted" by dirty politics.

"They are free to keep talking about the distractions if they want to and where appropriate I will keep answering questions. But from being out there, and the polls reflect that, New Zealanders are hungry to find out about the initiatives political parties have and that will be our focus over the next two weeks."

Mr Key spent about 45 minutes in Newmarket on a walkabout with Epsom candidate Paul Goldsmith.

It is the electorate Mr Key has done a deal with to help ensure Act returns to Parliament, asking voters to give their electorate votes to Act's David Seymour instead.

He said voters were aware of what they needed to do to help ensure National stayed in Government, and on the street several of those voters told him they were going along with it.

If further parties are required, Mr Key refused to say whether he would prefer to work with NZ First leader Winston Peters or Conservative leader Colin Craig, but said it wouldn't necessarily be easier to work with Mr Craig.

During last night's small party leaders' debate on TV One, Mr Peters refused to say which party he would prefer to work with if NZ First was required to form a Government.

Mr Key said a bit more clarity from Mr Peters would help voters "but it's for him to decide. If he doesn't want to declare that, it leaves a bit of ground to Colin Craig, but that's a matter for Winston Peters."

He said it was also up to the Maori Party to decide what to do, but National's long relationship with them might help.

Earlier Mr Key attended the launch of the Grafton cycleway with Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Green MP Julie-Anne Genter were all at the Grafton launch which connects to the cycleway toward West Auckland.

A group of enthusiastic cyclists were also there, including Cycling Action's Barbara Cuthbert.

Mr Key said he was also keen to get a cycleway across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.