Prebble confident of his position in ACT party

By HELEN TUNNAH, deputy political editor

Richard Prebble says he retains the confidence of his MPs to remain the leader of the Act party despite its poor polling.

"I'm absolutely confident that [there'll be] no challenge," he said yesterday.

"I've spoken to every single MP in the caucus and not one of them has raised the issue."

Mr Prebble has faced ongoing speculation about his leadership for the past 10 weeks, since Act's poll fortunes slumped while National's soared under new leader Don Brash.

Most of the conjecture has centred on Act's finance spokesman Rodney Hide, who has made no secret of his leadership aspirations.

The talk continues to destabilise the party, but a change in leader is not expected at today's caucus meeting, with one of their eight MPs still overseas and with Mr Prebble showing no inclination yesterday to step aside.

Mr Hide, reported at the weekend saying it was time for a change in Act's leadership, said last night he did not think that and he was not behind the latest leadership rumours. He said a decision on whether Mr Prebble could lift the party's performance rested with the party's MPs.

"Caucus supports Richard and I'm one of the caucus," he said.

"I don't think the issues that we need to confront are about leadership.

"Act has to show voters why they should vote for Act.

"Our challenge is to show New Zealanders that for a good government we need Don Brash as prime minister, and Act in support.

"All this is quite new, in the sense of Don Brash and the National Party doing so well.

"We have to work closely with the National party. We have to show that we can offer a good coalition partner for National to provide a good government."

Mr Prebble said he had spoken to all Act's MPs since arriving back in New Zealand from holiday last Friday, for various reasons, and none had raised the leadership issue with him.

He would not be asking any for confirmation of their support at today's caucus meeting.

"I'm not going to do any of that. I've got every confidence in my caucus."

Act deputy leader Ken Shirley, tipped to be another contender if Mr Prebble resigned or was toppled, said the party was concerned but not despondent about its low poll ratings.

However, he said any talk around the leadership was speculation.

"I have no reason to believe that the leadership will be discussed or be an issue at all."

The most recent opinion poll, the One News-Colmar Brunton survey released on Sunday, had Act support at just 1.6 per cent.

Without an electorate seat, the party needs to get 5 per cent support in next year's election to survive in Parliament.

Act's leadership

RICHARD PREBBLE

Aged 56.

First elected 1975.

Key figure in Lange Labour Government.

Act leader since 1996.

RODNEY HIDE

Aged 47.

First elected 1996.

Act's finance spokesman.

Outspoken and ambitious.