State of the parties

LABOUR

MPs: 51

Vote at last election: 41.26 per cent

Herald-DigiPoll result (late June): 36.2 per cent

Quote: "In my judgement few New Zealanders are looking for radical policy change this election, yet radical policy change is what is on offer from the Opposition." - leader Helen Clark.

The Prime Minister is leading a party now lagging behind National in the polls and desperate for a historic third term.

Labour has swung from highlighting the Government's achievements to targeting National Party leader Don Brash's credibility and intentions.

Labour's party list is out and its campaign launch will be on August 21.

NATIONAL

MPs: 27

Vote at last election: 20.93 per cent

Herald-DigiPoll result: 40.1 per cent

Quote: "This election is about finally tackling the issues of mainstream New Zealanders, after six years of Labour's PC social engineering." - leader Don Brash.

Slightly ahead of Labour in most polls since the May Budget, National - under Dr Brash, who took over from Bill English in a coup in October 2003 - is looking healthier now than it has for years.

The party is steadily releasing policies but the big one - income tax cuts - won't be seen until mid-August and expectations are sure to build around it.

NZ FIRST

MPs: 13

Vote at last election: 10.38 per cent

Herald-DigiPoll result : 11.8 per cent

Quote: "This will clearly be a three-horse race, and while NZ First has ground to make up, we are the party with momentum and with the policies which present a clear alternative for those who want real change from the two tired old parties." - leader Winston Peters

Sick of waiting for an election date, Mr Peters announced recently that his campaign would be launched this Sunday at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna.

The party's list has yet to be released but it has many major policies in place, notably superannuation.

Mr Peters has pushed NZ First up in the polls by offering a strong stance on immigration and targeting the grey vote.

Polling places him as kingmaker.

GREENS

MPs: 9

Vote at last election: 7 per cent

Herald-DigiPoll result: 4 per cent

Quote: "While Labour and National have been throwing mud at each other in the past few weeks, the Greens believe that what voters crave is a clean, issues-based campaign." - co-leader Rod Donald

The party has released its list and has 53 electorate candidates, although it will be targeting the party vote.

The Green Party is hovering around the critical 5 per cent mark in polls and has no realistic electorate seat prospect as a backup should it fail to get over the threshold. Reasonably well prepared, the Greens have extensive policies.

ACT

MPs: 9

Vote at last election: 7.14 per cent

Herald-DigiPoll result : 1.9 per cent

Quote: "The country wants a change. The only way to guarantee that change is to give their party vote to Act." - leader Rodney Hide

Looking sickly in the polls, Act is fighting for its existence and has not got the luxury of an electorate seat to fall back on.

The party list has been released.

UNITED FUTURE

MPs: 8

Vote at last election: 6.69 per cent

Herald-DigiPoll result: 1.3 per cent

Quote: "At the moment all the focus is on the two major parties, but people must realise that either of those parties will need a solid, stable, non-extreme smaller party to help them form a government. United Future fits that description." - leader Peter Dunne

United Future looks set to return to Parliament only thanks to Peter Dunne's safe Ohariu-Belmont seat.

Its party list is out but only two or three candidates have much hope of becoming MPs.

It has supported the Government in confidence and money supply votes and has been keen to highlight its responsible role.

PROGRESSIVES

MPs: 2

Vote at last election: 1.7 per cent

Herald-DigiPoll result: 0.2 per cent

The party's list is being finalised and should be out within a week.

Leader Jim Anderton, whose Wigram seat is safe, will launch its campaign on August 14.

The party has changed its name to "Jim Anderton's Progressive Party" to gain badly needed profile.

MAORI PARTY

MPs: 1

Vote at last election: Did not exist.

Herald-DigiPoll result: 3.1 per cent

A real threat to Labour in the Maori electorates.

The party has few policies out so far, but its party list has been released. Co-leaders are Tariana Turia, a former Labour Party minister, and educationist Dr Pita Sharples.