Greens after an open Govt and set election date

NEW ZEALAND: The Green Party wants more open government, starting with a fixed election date which it would treat as a priority in any post-election talks.

Co-leader Russel Norman today released a package of changes the Greens wanted to make government transparent including making Cabinet minutes public within a month of decisions being made, tightening up donations to political parties and having a register of lobbyists.

"The simplest one to do is the fixed election date," he told reporters.

"Let's just deal with that, let's not have this game about election dates - it's just a joke."

He said in light of recent controversies around donations to political parties it was time to fix the system.

"Too often New Zealanders are kept in the dark about the decisions that are taken on their behalf and they have very little information about who is providing money to political parties.

"And citizens are mostly unaware that businesses routinely employ paid professional lobbyists to influence the decisions of government and Parliament."

Dr Norman said the public had the right to know what and how decisions were made, who is giving parties money, who is using lobbyists, and should get better access to information.

Elements of the policy included:

* opening all archives within 30 years;

* setting an annual limit of $35,000 on donations to parties from any one person or entity and in local government a requirement for councillors to disclose pecuniary interests and declare donations over $500;

* disclosing the real identity of those behind donations over $1000;

* going ahead with the citizens assembly on campaign finance;

* a register for lobbyists disclosing clients, target, methods and subject;

* register of pecuniary interests must cover donations for barrister fees;

* an MPs' Code of Conduct;

* including Parliament within OIA, with protections to protect parties from government intervention;

* having a parliamentary vote before ratifying treaties; and

* resource applications and consents and breaches being made public.

Dr Norman thought the Greens would be able to progress changes to make the Official Information Act more effective but expected resistance in other areas, especially opening up Cabinet.

The Greens would seriously look at opening their books from next year.

"If we're not going to move there as a Parliament then I think the Greens probably need to move there."

Dr Norman said a set election date meant a shorter period for election spending could be set.

"All of the different scandals and so forth that have been happening it would help tremendously for people to have confidence in the integrity of our democratic system if there was much more transparency about what was going on. We believe this open government package will provide that transparency."

Greens and ACT argue over girl in ad

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: The Green Party says the ACT Party's use of the image it uses in its advertising campaign is theft, and it Is angry on behalf of those who hold the copyright.

The ACT Party television commercial parodies the Green Party advertisement, using the same image of a girl standing in front of Rangitoto Island but with a different voice over.

ACT's leader Rodney Hide says the ad was meant to be a bit of fun, and while the party did initially intend to use the image, its broadcast was a mistake.

He says after the party was told the ad was a breach of copyright it was redone with a different image.

However, the original version went to air once on TV3 on Saturday 1 November.

The television channel says its instructions were to change the advertisement from Sunday 2 November, but the correct version is now playing.

Listen to more on Morning Report

No student allowance scheme until after election

ONE NEWS: The National Party says it won't reveal its plans for student allowances before polling day this weekend.

On the first week of the campaign, around the time Labour revealed its move towards universal allowances, National Leader John Key said they would be announcing their own version but it would not be universal.

He now says the details won't be put out before polling day.

John Key says while there will be changes to student allowances, they'll be put out in their first budget if his party wins the election.

Poll has Horomia ahead in Maori seat

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: The latest Marae-DigiPoll shows a turnaround in the seat of Ikaroa-Rawhiti, with Labour Party candidate Parekura Horomia taking the lead from the Maori Party's Derek Fox.

Mr Horomia has gained nearly 4 points since the last poll in July and now sits on 49.8% support, up from 45.6%.

Over the same period Derek Fox has dropped nearly 3 points over that period and now sits on 44.4%, down from 47.1%.

Labour has also gained in the party vote and is up 3 points to 45.5%, while the Maori Party's support remains virtually unchanged on 39.2%, from 39.4%.

National recorded a big drop, down from 10.7% to 3.1%.

NZ First is on 4.9% (up from 3.3%) and the Greens 3.9% (up from 2.3%).

Only 20.8% of those surveyed said they would support the Maori Party forming a coalition with National, while 83.4% said they would support a coalition with Labour.

A total of 400 voters were surveyed between 15 and 28 October and the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9%.

National's school plan brings scepticism

ONE NEWS: National's announcement it will pump an extra $30 million into four Upper Hutt schools is being greeted with scepticism by at least one principal.

John Key's promising to inject half a billion dollars worth of infrastructure spending into the education system over the next three years.

He says $30 million of that will go towards Upper Hutt and Heretaunga colleges and Maidstone and Fergusson intermediates.

Maidstone Intermediate principal Richard Patterson says his school needs at least $8 million for the money to make any difference.

He says his school has 12 tiny pre-fab classrooms that need replacing, as well as a very small library which also needs an upgrade.

Richard Patterson says it's also unclear whether the $30 million will be on top of the $14 million already allocated to the schools by the Labour government.

Key reiterates there will be no Roger Douglas in Cabinet

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: National Party leader John Key has again made clear that ACT candidate Roger Douglas would not have a cabinet post if National formed a government.

Mr Key met ACT leader Rodney Hide in an Auckland cafe on Saturday, after which Mr Hide pledged his support to National.

John Key said he envisaged that Mr Hide would have a ministerial role in a National-led government, but again made clear there would be no such offer for former Labour finance minister Roger Douglas.

"We're going to run very much a progressive but centrist government and I don't believe that Roger's natural instincts would lend to that government's flavour and integrity.

"But we support ACT in terms of a partnership with National, and I think Rodney would make a fantastic minister."

Rodney Hide said he would love Mr Douglas to be a minister, but that ACT is not going to 'throw its toys out of the sandpit' over a Cabinet seat.

Listen to John Key and Rodney Hide speaking to reporters

One News Colmar Brunton Poll for Sunday 2 Nov

ONE NEWS:New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is facing a defeat in Tauranga, according to the latest ONE News Colmar Brunton poll.

National Party newcomer Simon Bridges looks set to comfortably take the seat at next Saturday's election.

The poll shows Bridges has climbed to 54%, up six points since the last poll in August, while Peters is stagnant on 28%.

Larry Baldock from the Kiwi Party is next on 7%, up from 4%.

Support for Labour's Anne Pankhursts has dived to 5%, a third of what she polled in August.

Most of the attention during the campaign in Tauranga has been on Bridges and Peters.

The National new-be is fighting to secure his political future, while Peters is fighting for his political survival.

"It is time for fresh faces, with fresh approaches all around the world, including in Tauranga," says 32-year-old Bridges.

Peters is still somewhat of a celebrity in Tauranga, with plenty of support still behind him.

"You look better in real life that you do on TV," says one Peters admirer.

But the people of Tauranga aren't supporting New Zealand First in the party vote. The party is polling at 6%.

At the last election they scored 13% of the party vote in Tauranga.

According to the poll results, there is only one road back to parliament for Peters and that's for New Zealand First to score more than 5% of the party vote nation wide.