Airport a defining issue - PM

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: Labour leader Helen Clark told the party's Congress on Saturday the decision to turn down a foreign bid for a stake in Auckland International Airport is a "defining issue".

Miss Clark said Labour is campaigning strongly on New Zealand being able to control its own destiny.

"Auckland International Airport is a huge iconic strategic asset for New Zealand. It has to be treated in that way," she said.

Helen Clark told the audience Labour cannot afford to rest on its laurels, and will be rolling out more major policy as the year progresses.

She highlighted the almost 30-year low in unemployment, and said Labour had already delivered big new ideas this year, with the Schools Plus proposal for compulsory education to 18 years old, and a research fund for the food and pastoral sectors.

Helen Clark labelled the National Party's brand "utterly vacuous".