National bullish about next election

National Party leader Don Brash, left, with deputy Gerry Brownlee.

National has kicked off its annual conference with a clear message to delegates that the next election is theirs for the winning.

Deputy leader Gerry Brownlee told the 500 people gathered in Christchurch, that New Zealanders are fed up with excessive state control. He attacked the government's platforms of economic transformation and national identity as meaningless. He says the catchphrases are not going to allow Labour to set the political agenda, as only National is achieving that.

Mr Brownlee says a national identity is not going to be achieved under a Labour government, set on controlling every aspect of New Zealanders' lives.

He says it will only flourish under a National government, which will promote freedom, choice, and independence.

The National Party also remains committed to an "ongoing" programme of tax cuts, its finance spokesman John Key says.

Mr Key today told delegates he believed the Labour-led Government would yield to overwhelming calls for tax cuts later in this term.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has said possible business tax cuts, as a result of the Government's business tax review, might need to be matched by some form of personal cut.

But Mr Key said that cut - if it happened - was quite different from what National was proposing.

"What New Zealanders should not be fooled by is the difference between a cynical and belated tax cut by Labour and a National government firmly committed to an ongoing process of ensuring that our tax system stays relevant and competitive -- the sort of commitment so admirably demonstrated in Australia," Mr Key said in notes for his speech.

In Australia, the Howard-led government had cut personal income tax several times in the past six years.

But Mr Key was silent on the extent of the tax cuts National will be offering at the n xt election.

Both he and party leader Don Brash have said that depends on how much money is available at the time.

Mr Key said government spending needed to be more focused.

Small gains would add up to huge sums over 25 years.

Similarly policies that encouraged growth, even if they had only small effects in the immediate future, could dramatically lift an economy over time.

That was evidenced by the turnaround in New Zealand's economic performance as a result of reforms in the 1980s and 1990s.

Labour lacked vision and its policies were not even achieving incremental productivity gains, he said.

National's deputy leader Gerry Brownlee also attacked Labour's "economic transformation" platform, saying it lacked substance or credibility.

Party president Judy Kirk is expected to warn delegates this afternoon that National will be heavily punished by voters for any shows of disunity in the lead up to the next election.

Dr Brash's leadership has come under renewed scrutiny in the past fortnight after two recent polls showing his preferred prime minister rating dropping to around 13 per cent.

A One News-Colmar Brunton poll last night showed he had the support of 37 per cent of National voters, with Mr Key not far behind on 23 per cent.

There is pressure on Dr Brash from within the party to lift his visibility and performance.

Dr Brash has said he does not believe there is a mood for change among his caucus, but he and party president Judy Kirk will stress the need for unity among its MPs and members.


- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA