Labour faithful urged to lift funding effort <font size=0><font color=#cc0000><b> (+audio)</font color></font></b>

Labour president Mike Williams is calling on the party to raise money "like never before" after a year in which it was forced to find $800,000 to pay back money identified by the auditor-general as misspent.
Audio: the new Labour song by Chris Knox

"We have a recent lesson in setting a goal and getting there. This will be an expensive election, but we have shown that we have the people and the determination to foot it with our well-funded opponents," he said at the opening of the three-day annual conference in Takapuna.

The 450 delegates at the conference were entertained last night by a new campaign song penned by rock icon Chris Knox including the hook "It's a better way with Labour, way better."

Fresh from a significant Cabinet reshuffle, the party is expected in backdoor meetings to focus on upcoming selections in key seats as it strives to rejuvenate its caucus.

Prime Minister Helen Clark will deliver her keynote speech to the conference today. She is expected to make housing affordability a key theme with legislation aimed at improving the supply of lower cost houses due to be introduced to Parliament before Christmas.