Published in the NBR of 28 May
John Bishop

One thing all four contenders for the leadership of the ACT party agree on is that they would just love to serve under Don Brash in a Brash led government.

They also agree that having to sit at the same cabinet table with Winston Peters is unacceptable. At the Wellington candidates meeting, Peters was variously described as 'a flawed politician','unprincipled', 'unable to be a team player', and akin to a 'Shakespearian tragic hero'

Having spent years slagging off the National Party as spineless, unprincipled, opportunistic and worse, ACT's leadership quartet are now singing in harmony the praises of the leader of the rival party.

Hide: "I don't trust the National Party or many of its MPs, but I trust Don Brash to stay true. We have campaigned against the Nats, and have gained strength from their weaknesses, but they need us. We'll be the brains, spine and talent for Don Brash."

Rodney Hide stood out as the contender with the most carefully calculated presentation, beginning his speech modestly, "my name is Rodney Hide and I want you to vote for me."

He'd analysed his strengths and played to them - a founder member of the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, media savvy, and achievements in Parliament.

"My proudest moment, apart from my son being born, was being elected to Parliament. I'm proud of shaking up MPs' funding arrangements. I'm proud of shaking up the IRD who were bullying New Zealand taxpayers."

And also his weaknesses. "But I can leave that (getting hits on the government) behind and step up. Members have been telling me that I have to do that and I have been listening."

And then the clincher: "according to our polling I am the politician most acceptable to the people who are likely to vote for us."

Ken Shirley proclaimed that "we are enjoying this contest, but behind the smiling affability is a bitter contest being conducted in code.

"The leadership is not relevant to our impact, because Rodney will still have impact" - Stephen Franks.

" We need star performers and impact players but we also need a team captain to hold the team together and to have sound judgment. It's not the star performer who makes the best team captain - Ken Shirley.

Significantly there was not even muted criticism of Rodney Hide from Muriel Newman, who drew on her own poor background and business achievements, noted she had been "a missionary for the party", and promised a "more inclusive modern style of leadership."

Having a primary election at all simply reflects the inability of the ACT caucus to agree on who should lead them. None of the four contenders would get a majority.

"There was just no way that the eight MPs were ever going to reach a decision so there had to be a circuit breaker," said one insider.

The presumption is that the two MPs least supported by the party members will drop out, and this will clear the way for one of the remaining two to be chosen.

On the face of it the primary seems to be doing the party good. Turnouts have been high, the members have taken the matter seriously, and there is a genuine contest for the hearts and minds of the members.

There are a couple of unresolved questions: who will be the deputy. A Hide/Newman ticket has been touted in the past, but Newman says she is in the contest to be leader and has given "no thought" to the deputy's position.

The other unknown is what happens after the contest. Is there anyone who would not serve under the other? The differences in philosophy and personality between Hide and Franks are obvious. If either were to be the leader, would the other hang around - assuming that there is an ACT presence in the next Parliament?

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