Wannabes facing scrap for National Party presidency

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

The results are in - and the dogfight for the presidency of the National Party is all on.

On the surface, it's all polite applause and handshakes.

But behind the smiles, it's war.

Incumbent John Slater secured a nomination from the northern regional conference at the Waipuna Lodge in Auckland yesterday by 164 votes to 125.

Challenger Michelle Boag secured hers a week ago in Rotorua from the Central North Island division, 67 to 66.

Both are from Auckland and needed a nomination from one of five divisions to be in the contest - although the regional results do not bind delegates in any way at the final vote in July.

Supporters of Mr Slater at the weekend were promoting the line that Michelle Boag's campaign was being bankrolled by millionaires Trevor Farmer and Alan Gibbs - in the news recently for their investments in failed airline Qantas New Zealand and for making secret donations to Act in 1996.

Supporters of Michelle Boag say yesterday's vote was stacked by about 40 ring-ins who supported Mr Slater - although that is not against the rules.

Ms Boag would not tell the Herald who was financing her. Before she decided to stand, she sought help from friends for travel, computer and printing costs -"all of which John gets paid for by the party."

Most of the donors would not be known to National Party delegates.

"They are just people I regard as personal friends and I don't think it is appropriate to give people a list of them.

"I've never hidden the fact that, yes, I have friends and supporters in the business community."

She had received modest amounts from them - "$5000 here and $5000 there."

A delegate told the Herald the fact Ms Boag was being bankrolled by Mr Farmer and Mr Gibbs showed "a level of desperation."

Mr Slater said he was running a clean campaign.

He said he could not control everybody but he had told his team to concentrate on the issues.

He repeatedly told the conference that National "valued facts, not spin" but said later that was a reference to Labour, not to his rival - who is a public relations consultant.

Slater supporters such as MP Maurice Williamson had a spring in their step after the Auckland result.

The Boag camp said the defeat was a direct result of the win in Rotorua - and that she would have won Auckland had she lost in Rotorua. The line being pushed ad nauseam from both sides is that National likes a contest.

Leader Jenny Shipley said competition gave "a sense of vibrancy."

Yesterday's result should not be seen as a pointer to the final one, she said.

Each electorate at regional conferences had 18 voting delegates but that dropped to five at the national conference in July.

"I think it's very hard to put too much weight on the margin of the votes today and at the subsequent regional conferences.

"I think it's very hard to call. I think it will be closely contested."

Former treaty negotiations minister Sir Douglas Graham nominated Mr Slater, with the message that he should not be the scapegoat for National's election defeat.

"We don't blame the Blues supporters when the Blues lose."

Michelle Boag was nominated by a solo mother from Albany, Paula Bennett, who said the party had to move out of its comfort zone and broaden its base.

The theme of the need for change was reinforced on Michelle Boag's behalf by comic Mike King at a function she hosted on Friday night.



"This used to be a great party," said King.

" You guys are going to struggle in this next election unless we come up with change. People out there are screaming for change.

"I say vote for change."

He said New Zealand children needed to be taught about people such as Sir Edmund Hillary and Kate Sheppard, who gave the country its identity.



"If you are really serious about winning this election, if you want to win the hearts of New Zealanders it is by promoting New Zealand.

"You are the National Party and you are supposed to embrace everybody, not just people with money, not just people from Remuera and places like - all New Zealanders."

Michelle Boag said King was a friend whom she had met through charity work and he had not been paid for the evening.

The next regional conference is in Wellington next weekend and Ms Boag is expected to win that vote.