UF candidate says he might back Nats or Labour

Larry Baldock

United Future's Tauranga candidate, Larry Baldock, says he is considering throwing his weight behind either National or Labour if he thinks Winston Peters can be beaten.

Mr Baldock, a sitting MP, stood in Tauranga in 1999 for the Future New Zealand Party and took 1456 votes. Mr Peters kept the seat with a majority of 63.

Future New Zealand joined the United Party, which became United Future, and Mr Baldock is again in the Tauranga arena.

He said last night he regretted splitting the vote in 1999, and letting Mr Peters "sneak in" just ahead of National's Katherine O'Regan.

He said he would look carefully at a poll taken in Tauranga in the last week of the campaign, if there was one, and would be prepared to back National's candidate Bob Clarkson or Labour's Sally Barrett if he thought one of them could defeat Mr Peters.

"It is important to put the interests of this city ahead of any of our own ambitions, agendas or personal egos," he said at a candidates meeting.

"This election should be about Tauranga and who is best qualified to serve its needs and concerns for the next three years."

Mr Peters retained the seat in 2002 with a 10,362 majority, although that was against a weak National Party candidate. Polls suggest Mr Clarkson is making it a close contest this year.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES