National's tax bill to be before Parliament by Christmas

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: The National Party says it would introduce legislation to implement its tax cut programme before Christmas if it becomes the government after this week's election.

Leader John Key announced on Tuesday 4 November what his party would do in its first 100 days in office.

He says National would introduce legislation this year for its transitional relief package for those made redundant as a result of the global financial crisis.

It would also ensure women suffering from breast cancer and paying for the drug Herceptin beyond the subsidised nine-week course were eligible for 52 weeks.

Mr Key says National would put a reformed Resource Management Act on the order paper and introduce tougher sentences for repeat violent offenders in its first 100 days.

National would also pass a reformed Emissions Trading Scheme within nine months.

National announces roading plans

ONE NEWS: John Key has pledged $100 million towards the Tauranga central corridor project, should National form the next government.

It includes a Welcome Bay road underpass, a four-lane state highway along 15th Avenue to the Hairini roundabout and a new bridge.

The aim is to have the upgrade completed within six years and without the need for tolls.

The National Party leader has been in Tauranga in a final campaign push to help Simon Bridges retain the seat for National in Saturday's election.

Tauranga's mayor has welcomed the funding promise.

Stuart Crosby says it is pleasing the city could again benefit from the battle for the treasury benches.

Winston Peters won funding for a second harbour bridge during negotiations with Labour after the last election.

Key announces Ryall as National health minister

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: National Party leader John Key has confirmed that Tony Ryall would be the Minister of Health in a National-led government.

It is the first time Mr Key has made any specific announcement about the makeup of a Government he would lead.

Mr Key and Mr Ryall spent Tuesday 4 November campaigning in Tauranga, as did New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

With New Zealand First polling under the 5% threshold, it is critical for Mr Peters to win the Tauranga seat.

However, recent polls put National's candidate Simon Bridges ahead.

3 News holds leaders debate days before election

NEW ZEALAND HERALD: Labour leader Helen Clark and National's John Key played it safe and didn't go anywhere new when they faced off tonight in the second TV leaders debate.

For most of the time TV3's John Campbell was more excited than they were as he tried to trip them up over flip-flops and policy promises.

It didn't work because they were quick on their feet and they moved on to pick apart each other's policies in ways that they have been doing for the last three weeks.

Miss Clark accused National of selling state assets. Mr Key said he hadn't sold any.

Mr Key said Labour had nine years to make a difference and didn't do much. Miss Clark wheeled out the Government's record.

And they both claimed credit for visionary plans to protect New Zealand from the ravages of the international financial crisis.

If they're anywhere near right, no one has much to really worry about. Neither wanted to go near anything serious that might happen during the next term of Parliament.

But if these debates are more about presence than policies, then Mr Key again showed he could foot it with Miss Clark.

He didn't give any ground, tried to talk over her the way he did during the first debate and showed he had got his head around a lot of policy points.

Miss Clark was marginally more forceful and assertive about her determination not to let Kiwis down during tough times, Mr Key was more analytical with his plans for economic growth.

Labour's leader had to work hard on why she wasn't past her use by date and insisted her party had been rejuvenated.

Some of Mr Key's front bench were "about as fresh as an old snapper" she observed.

Mr Key doesn't have that problem, he can safely assure voters he's new and fresh, and he did.

Future coalitions presented the most promising field to Campbell to explore, but neither leader was prepared to put any cards on the table.

After the debate Mr Key told reporters he was sure viewers benefited from being able to hear "distilled" versions of National's policies, which was an optimistic take on the situation.

Miss Clark said she had the feeling National wasn't nearly as sure as it had been about being able to win the election.

Mark it a draw. This one won't be remembered for anything special.

Maori Party calls for $500 for poor families

NEW ZEALAND HERALD: The Maori Party is suggesting a $500 tax free payment to pensioners and poverty-stricken families with children to help them get through the Christmas period.

It has costed the payment at $136.5 million, and the party says it would help the economy as well because people would spend it.

The Christmas gift idea was announced by Angeline Greensill, the Maori Party's Hauraki-Waikato candidate who is trailing Labour's Nanaia Mahuta in the polls.

"$500 per child is a much needed boost to families truggling to pay the bills and feed the kids," says Angeline Greensill, candidate for Hauraki-Waikato.

"It is only a temporary measure but one successfully applied in Australia this month to keep the economy moving and to support families during an already high-stress period."

She said families living in poverty should get $500 for each child and superannuitants should get $500 each.

Co-leader Pita Sharples said it was part of an economic package the Maori Party had designed which included removing GST from food, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and cutting taxes for low income families.

"Food bank use and loan sharking is on the rise and this is but one measure to alleviate that pressure," he said.

More influence on Maori spending wanted by Maori Party

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says the party will look at whether National or Labour will give it influence over the money spent on Maori people, when looking at potential coalition partners.

Recent poll results have fueled speculation that the Maori Party's decision to support Labour or National will determine who leads the next government.

Mrs Turia says her party will hold a series of hui around the country after the election, to find out what its supporters want in a government.

She says her party will require an audit of the money spent on Maori people by every government department, to determine how effective it has been.

She told Nine to Noon that the Maori Party wants a significant influence over that spending.

"I think it is very important for us to know where money is being spent, and what the outcomes of it is."

Mrs Turia says there are a variety of ways it could achieve that, including having MPs who are ministers outside Cabinet.

Listen to Tariana Turia on Nine to Noon

Labour, National respond

Labour leader Helen Clark says her party has been working for some time to give Maori a say on the way government funding is spent in their communities.

She says Labour has been including Maori in Budget decisions since it was elected to government in 1999.

National Party leader John Key is not ruling out offering the Maori Party some control over government spending in any post election negotiations.

Mr Key says all issues will be up for discussion after polling day but declined to take a firm position on entrenching the Maori seats, a bottom line for the Maori Party, after Labour indicated its support on 2 November.

Maori Party ' key'

Political commentator Chris Trotter told Morning Report he believes the Maori Party holds the key to the next government being formed.

"That's going to be an extraordinarily interesting process for the rest of New Zealand to watch, because I can't see the numbers falling in any way that doesn't give the Maori Party the swing vote, as it were, in this election."

The party will hold a series of hui around the country after polling day, to find out what its supporters want.

Mr Trotter says that could take a week.

Greens could not work with Peters in cabinet

3 NEWS: The Green Party says it won't work with a Labour government if Winston Peters is involved with cabinet.

Co-leader Russell Norman says they want a commission of inquiry into various funding scandals involving New Zealand First.

Over the weekend there were more reports about Winston Peters and United Future leader Peter Dunne and their connections to the racing industry and the so-called donations for policy scandal.

Mr Norman restated his party’s position at the launch of their open government policy.

“I think that if we get to the position post-election where Winston Peters is being proposed as a minister, or if he gets back in, I think he can’t sit around the cabinet table until we clear this issue up,” he said.

“I think the latest allegations are actually the most serious yet because they are allegations of money for policy.”

The move is significant because Labour will need to rely on the Greens and take heed of what Russel Norman has to say if they want to form a centre-left government after the election.