Leaders look forward to relaxing

New Zealand's political leaders say they are looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break before the hurly burly of Parliament begins again in the New Year.

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she plans to have a very active holiday, but will not be sitting on the beach as she is terrified of getting melanoma.

She wishes everyone a merry Christmas and hopes everyone stays safe.

She warns against drinking and driving or getting too sunburnt and suggests taking the time to be with family.

Helen Clark says the low point of the year for her was the ill-tempered election campaign and the highlight was winning the Rugby World Cup bid.

She says 2005 started with a lot of activity around the tsunami relief effort, and has ended with a number of international summits.

She says the key issue in 2006 will be dealing with the future of the economy.

Helen Clark wants to focus on up-skilling New Zealanders and increasing the value of what they produce.

She says she is planning a very active holiday, but will not give any details about it.

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Don Brash considers himself a lucky man as his Auckland home fills with family for Christmas.

The National Party leader has not taken a break since before the election and is looking forward to relaxing at home and getting some pruning done in his kiwifruit orchard.

Dr Brash says he is lucky his three children and their families are all living in Auckland so he can be with them on Christmas Day.

He also wants to escape to Queenstown for a couple of weeks before heading back to Parliament.

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Jeanette Fitzsimons wants New Zealanders to have a happy, environmentally friendly Christmas Day.

The Green Party co-leader is at home in the Coromandel with family.

She is urging everyone to think organic over summer to help promote sustainability.

She has been unable to stop since the sudden November 6 death of Rod Donald.

She describes it as the worst time of her life.

Ms Fitzsimons says she has just been hanging on until she could get home for a few weeks and finally relax.

She has also instructed the Green Party caucus to take a decent holiday before they return to tackle the new year.

Jeanette Fitzsimons says she is most looking forward to spending the Christmas week with her 10-month old grandson Jasper.

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The Foreign Affairs Minister has big plans for 2006.

Winston Peters says progress on the international stage has been good so far with a successful East Asian summit and World Trade Organisation talks.

He is hoping to build on that next year.

He wants to ensure 2006 is a successful year for the country and that New Zealand gets as much progress as possible on the things it has been working on for some time.

Mr Peters says New Zealand First has also been through some big changes and he is hoping that will help refocus his party for 2006 and on to the 2008 election.

The new-look party now has Dail Jones as president.

Mr Peters sends wishes to everyone for a wonderful Christmas and a safe holiday on the roads and on the water.

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It is all about tradition in the Dunne household on Christmas Day.

United Future leader Peter Dunne is spending the day in Wellington with family.

He says there is a traditional Christmas dinner where everyone eats too much then pledges never to do it again.

Mr Dunne says there is a walk before lunch and a nap afterwards.

He is then looking forward to doing not much over the rest of the break, catching up on reading and enjoying good company.

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While some New Zealanders get away from home over summer, for Tariana Turia there is only one place she wants to be.

The Maori Party co-leader has gone home to her Whangaehu farm for a big family Christmas.

She says she spends all year away from the family and just longs to get home to be with the kids.

Mrs Turia says this year there will be no hangi but it will still be a massive feast.

She says they have decided to go for a more traditional New Zealand summer barbecue.

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Rodney Hide is looking forward to little presents and a big lunch.

The ACT leader is at home in Epsom with family for Christmas Day.

He says they are not extravagant present givers but like to give each other little gifts.

But he says his favourite part of Christmas is a massive lunch followed by the all important nap.

Mr Hide says the afternoon siesta is the best bit because he eats until he is full, then sleeps and - amazingly - wakes up hungry.

After Christmas, Mr Hide is heading to Otago to have several weeks' time out with friends.

- NEWSTALK ZB