National's president feels the heat

Peter Goodfellow has Prime Minister John Key's support. Photo / Simon Baker

National Party president Peter Goodfellow is facing a grassroots-led movement to unseat him at the party's annual conference this weekend - but insiders say he is likely to survive.

Four candidates, including Mr Goodfellow, have confirmed they are vying for three open places on the party's 10-strong board of directors. The board then elects the president.

The other board candidates are Alan Towers, Malcolm Plimmer and Roger Bridge, who all chair their respective regions and are considered to carry considerable weight among their local delegates.

Prime Minister John Key has said Mr Goodfellow has done a good job, and it is understood most of the party's MPs support him. He wants to continue as president, but if he was dumped it would leave the party red-faced at a time when National and its leader are riding high in the polls.

Some grassroots members disapprove of Mr Goodfellow and consider him an ineffectual communicator.

Party sources say there is an effort to dump him from the board, especially in Auckland, where delegates want one of their own to be president.

"There is a serious move afoot to get him not re-elected to the board. There is some disgruntlement," a source told the Herald.

"He probably will survive, because it would be hugely embarrassing for the party [otherwise]."

Leading efforts to remove him is blogger Cameron Slater, who has launched a concerted attack on Mr Goodfellow's fundraising record.

Mr Goodfellow has rejected this, saying the party coffers have never been so full at the midpoint of a non-election year.

"Our war chest is well ahead of target for the first half of this year. We've got more funds in hand from donors than in any previous election year.

"The money is not going to come in unless I go out there and talk to potential donors."

Mr Goodfellow declined to say how much he had raised, though he has held two fundraising events and has organised at least three others for the rest of the year.

Asked if he was confident of being voted back in, Mr Goodfellow said: "We have to leave that to the delegates. I am pretty fortunate to have a good working relationship with John Key and I have his support and confidence, so I am looking for a good result on Saturday.

"I'd like to feel that my independence from having any regional role is actually a benefit and enables me to concentrate on the national campaign."

Voting for the board members will take place tomorrow.

The president will be announced on Sunday.

National goes into the conference - which will focus on the economy and how to nurture growth - with a 20-point lead in the polls.

Mr Goodfellow said disquiet over the Emissions Trading Scheme had largely evaporated.

"A poll we had at the northern regional conference showed 80 per cent support for the Government's stance."

BOARD CANDIDATES
* Peter Goodfellow, the current president.
* Alan Towers, chairman of the northern region.
* Malcolm Plimmer, chairman of the lower North Island region.
* Roger Bridge, chairman of the Cantebury-Westland region.