War in Afghanistan the only major issue dividing party viewpoints

The timing of the Apec leaders' summit in Hawaii this weekend will deprive John Key of a significant meeting with the host, US President Barack Obama.

New Zealand will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English as the Prime Minister campaigns here.

Trade Negotiations Minister Tim Groser left yesterday to thrash out with nine other counterparts an outline of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the bare bones of which is due to be unveiled by Mr Obama on Saturday.

But the issue has not been one of great contention between National and Labour. Labour spokeswoman Maryan Street has raised concerns about transparency around the TPP and she cautions the Government to take care over intellectual property clauses, which could affect the way bulk-drug buyer Pharmac operates.

But in essence the two parties' positions on free trade differ little.

Labour leader Phil Goff was instrumental in getting the TPP negotiations launched. It was his second most important achievement after negotiating a free trade agreement with China.

The main areas of difference between the parties are their approach to overseas development assistance and NZ's presence in Afghanistan.

Maryan Street concedes that the difference over multilateralism and human rights may be a matter of emphasis. While she believed National was committed to them, it did not promote them actively.

"I don't hear Murray McCully talking about human rights. I don't hear him ... valuing the United Nations particularly and its influence and its role."

Mr McCully says National tends to approach other countries about their record in private rather than employing megaphone diplomacy.

"We see being given the responsibility to conduct foreign policy in Government as an opportunity to advance New Zealand's interests rather than an opportunity to live out our student protest fantasies," he said.

The improvement in relations with the US has been a hallmark of the National Government, with a partnership agreement signed last year and a full restoration of the intelligence relationship. Defence relations are improving as well.

Mr McCully believed that although Labour was keen to improve the US relationship, National did more to make it happen. "Those differences of style do matter. Americans know that we are absolutely genuine about our desire to maximise the partnership and they've reciprocated."

He had also put more emphasis on New Zealand's leadership role in the Pacific and its responsibilities in the region, and into advancing the relationship with Asean, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"But there aren't too many differences because foreign policy is about advancing the national interest."

That meant "as much consistency as possible in the way in which New Zealand presents itself", he said.

The most significant area of difference between National and all other parties in Parliament besides Act is the deployment of New Zealand combat troops to Afghanistan.

Labour, which deployed the SAS in the first place, has changed its mind, saying the Government of Harmid Karzai is corrupt. The SAS is due to come out by March but Mr Key has not ruled out a future deployment.

Labour would keep on only the 140-strong Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan while it developed a joint exit strategy with other coalition members.