KEY POINTS:
2.50pm: Greens release policy, drop bombshell over Peters
The Greens have released their pivotal policies in Wellington, delivered by co-leaer Russel Norman.
He has outlined a number of conditions the Greens are asking for, but the comment which has raised most eyebrows among the journalists in
the Gallery this afternoon is his assertion that the Greens won't work in a cabinet that includes the beleaguered New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
1.55pm: This smells like old fish - Dunne
United Future leader Peter Dunne continues to distance hmself as far as possible from the 'fisheries' donation his party received.
In a statement to media this afternoon, Dunne asserts:
* On 12 August 1999 I met Mr Meurant to discuss the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3) then before Parliament. He made me aware of Vela's opposition to some specific provisions of the Bill.
* On 16 August 1999 I issued a press release supporting some of the Seafood Industry Council's concerns about the Bill.
* On or about 22 August 1999 Mr Meurant apparently wrote a memo to the Velas recommending they make a donation of $5,000 to the United Party. The first time I became aware of this memo was when I was contacted by the Dominion Post over the weekend.
Dunne goes on to accuse the media of being scurrilous to introduce this topic just days out from an election.
1.25pm: How well is our health service?
Health Minister David Cunliffe is scoffing at National's Tony Ryall's claim that the government is conveniently ignoring a damning report on our health service, prepared by the northern District Health Boards.
"I made it clear in my statement to the Herald yesterday that I have not received the submission and have not been briefed on its contents."
"So it stands to reason that if I haven't seen this document then how can I possibly have hidden it," said Cunliffe.
1.10pm: Greens ask all to heed environmental message
The Green Party says the result of a poll conducted by Greenpeace sends out a clear message as to which party is the the friendliest to the environment.
"This result shows why New Zealand needs a strong Green voice in Government", said Green Party Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei.
12.30pm: Key stands by candidate
National leader John Key is standing by a candidate embroiled in an immigration row.
Questions were raised last week about National's Manukau East candidate, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi's role in a 2003 immigration application.
Key today said he had not spoken to Bakshi directly but other party officials had and he was standing by him for now.
He said anyone with relevant information should provide that to the authorities.
Bakshi was notably absent from a clutch of local National Party candidates who accompanied Key on the campaign trail in south Auckland today.
11.25am: Nats promise five trades schools
National leader John Key is this morning talking education.
He has promised to establish five specialist 'trade academies' in the next three years as part of a push to boost trades in schools.
Mr Key made the announcement today at south Auckland's Southern Cross Campus, which provides services to decile one schools in the area.
He said the campus would be the first to benefit from National's policy - to the tune of $6 million capital funding.
At the same event, former All Blacks Michael Jones and Inga Tuigamala voiced their support of the National Party in this Saturday's election.
11.00am: Greens call for transparency
The Greens have called on the government to be more transparent with the public, claiming a lot of things are being kept secret from the public that do not need to be.
The party are holding a media conference outside Parliament this morning to shed some light on what it claims are the "hidden workings of the Government."
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says New Zealanders have lost faith in democracy, given the recent political donation dramas.
"The funding scandal around New Zealand First has been one of the biggest issues of recent times but at the last election we had the funding scandal around National. So I think we need to tidy that up and make it more open and transparent."
10.45am: Stopping the brain drain
National Party deputy leader Bill English has been interviewed on Leighton Smith's morning show on Newstalk ZB today.
Smith asked him about the tragedy of so many young people leaving NZ for places like Australia.
"We are going to compete for them," affirmed English. "We will not just sit by and let Australia suck up our talent.
"They will stay if we have a dynamic economy that is generating opportunities. John Key talks a lot about 'winning' - encouraging high aspirations and risk-taking", said English.
"That's the sort of talk these young achievers want to hear - not just empty promises from a government trying to get itself re-elected."
10.25am: Choppers and campaigns
Winston Peters has come out firing at allegations about his use of helicopters on the campaign trail in the past.
He says New Zealand First has used helicopters for travel during two election campaigns - but not for campaigning itself.
Mr Peters said that the way a question was framed on Agenda yesterday implied that he had used a helicopter to campaign from.
"We used a helicopter to travel and I do not deny that, but to suggest that I somehow stood at the door of a flying helicopter shouting at voters is preposterous.
"We were campaigning", he said, "not deerstalking."
10.00am: Entrenchment rules
Labour leader Helen Clark has come out in support of entrenching the Maori seats as parties jostle for Maori Party support before Saturday's general election.
"I think we now need to move forward on entrenchment," she told Sunrise on TV3.
Entrenching the seats, which means a 75 per cent majority vote in Parliament would be needed to abolish them, is a bottom line for the Maori Party in any post-election negotiations.
National leader John Key yesterday said entrenchment would be a matter for post-election talks. His party's policy was to eventually scrap them.
8.50am: A Dunne deal?
United Future leader Peter Dunne is facing allegations he was offered money after agreeing to oppose international fishing restrictions.
The Dominion Post reported today that fishing magnate Philip Vela was advised that if he gave Dunne a $5000 donation it could lead to the MP's help with a tax issue the Vela company faced and with "access" to a parliamentary select committee.
Dunne admitted getting the donation in 1999 or 2002 but said it was under the level required to be declared.
He said the party had "never been in the business of selling votes for policy".
8.00am: It's down to the wire
The final week is upon us.
In the campaign's closing stages Labour is working hard to persuade voters that with tough times ahead this isn't the time to change the government.
PM Helen Clark and Finance Minister Michael Cullen are putting a lot of effort into this to show they are dealing with potential problems caused by the international financial crisis.
On Saturday they announced a deal with the big banks that will help people manage their mortgages and avoid forced sales. It could gain votes as mortgage holders nervously anticipate the economic downturn and the possibility of losing their jobs.
Labour's hopes of closing the gap rest mainly on two leaders debates on TV this week, the first of which is tonight on TV3.
Today National Party leader John Key is campaigning in Auckland, and tonight he will be appearing on the televised debate.
- NZHERALD STAFF, with NZPA and NEWSTALK ZB