Local labour candidate gatecrashes Bill English's campaign at Blenheim cafe

Bill English's campaign stop at a Blenheim cafe has been gatecrashed by the local Labour candidate - who approached the National Party leader before he made a swift exit.

Janette Walker, Labour's Kaikoura candidate, works across the road from the BV Deli and when she saw the police cars accompanying English decided to pop across and have a word.

Labour's Kaikoura candidate Janette Walker talking to the media. Photo / Nicholas Jones

After speaking to media she approached English, who said hello.

English told Walker it was good to meet her.

"I hope you are flat out getting votes."

He then swiftly moved off to talk to staff in the cafe's kitchen.

English's diplomatic protection squad shunted media out of the narrow cafe walkway to get to the pair, as bemused cafe patrons looked on.

Walker said she had no problem with English but was strongly critical of National's Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith, saying he had been put in his position by the wine industry.

The cafe visit was an eventful one - English also ran into former All Black and MP Grahame Thorne.

Thorne said he played rugby with English in the parliamentary rugby team.

He told media that as a National supporter he was "terrified" about how the election could turn out.

"It could be a long night on Saturday."

English this morning visited a tractor and repair shop in Renwick, where after shaking each hand he asked for their vote on Saturday.

Most promised their support, but tractor mechanic Mike Street replied, "we'll see".

He said he was still undecided, and was concerned about a lack of a charge on water bottlers and foreign ownership of land - saying several wineries had been bought up recently by overseas buyers.