Controversial figure gets top Nats list spot

The Dominion Post

STEVEN JOYCE: The campaigner named as the key go-between in meetings between the Exclusive Brethren and former leader Don Brash during the 2005 election campaignn has been given a plum national list spot.

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National has chosen its controversial former campaign manager Steven Joyce for one of the top spots on its party list.

Joyce was named in Nicky Hager's book The Hollow Men as the key go-between in meetings between the Exclusive Brethren and former leader Don Brash during the 2005 election campaign.

The former campaign manager met with the Brethren during its bid to unseat Labour during its $1 million pamphlet campaign against the government, and also helped organise the Brethren to volunteer to help National candidates around the country.

During the campaign Joyce denied any knowledge of the Brethren's campaign but emails leaked to Hager that appear in his book show Joyce was closely involved.

They include the May 24, 2005 email to Brash and then finance spokesman John Key from Brethren member Ron Hickmott that asks for follow-up meetings with the leaders and mentions another with Joyce.

The former head of Radio Works was also responsible for signing off the divisive but highly successful billboard campaign devised by adman John Ansell, including the Iwi/Kiwi billboard. Joyce also coined the "mainstream" phrase used by Brash to describe National in 2005.

Mr Joyce says criticism about his previous role is to be expected.

"I suppose you expect a bit of dirt to be thrown and frankly you suppose its par for the course," Mr Joyce said.

Mr Joyce said he worked to be a good campaign manager.

"I am just confident that everything that National did in that campaign among the campaign team was in keeping with the electoral act."

The party had fronted up over failing to pay GST while other parties had avoided dealing with breaches.

Mr Joyce said there were bigger issues "than one new candidate for the National Party".

He was standing "because we are in pretty tough economic times and I do think we need to change a few things to build the country a stronger future. Frankly the public probably want that to be all their politicians' focus rather than bashing each other around too much."

Joyce has been handed one of only five list-only places, meaning he does not have to stand in an electorate seat. They are normally reserved for senior MPs, high-flying candidates, and the leader. Brash was handed such a spot in 2002. Front-bench MP David Carter has also been given one after the debacle selection process in the new seat of Selwyn.

National Party president Judy Kirk said a short time ago that she was thrilled to have Joyce as one of National's five list-only candidates, alongside Melissa Lee, the Korean-born host of the television programme Asia Downunder. "Melissa's 20 years of journalism experience and Steven's extensive senior commercial experience will be valuable additions to the team,'' Kirk said.

Joyce quit straight after National's election loss in September 2005, but did not rule out at the time standing as a candidate in 2008.

He is the chief executive of Jasons Travel Media and National's campaign chair. He has also been a consultant advisor to leader John Key.

His nomination is likely to go down poorly with some in National's caucus, who believe he remains tainted from his association with the Brethren and Brash and disagreed with his controversial campaigning methods during the 2005 election.

Joyce's list placing adds another millionaire into National's ranks.

Joyce told the New Zealand newspaper in 2003 that he had "retired" at 38 years old after selling his shares in RadioWorks to Canwest for around $8 million.

Prime Minister Helen Clark was quick to condemn the nomination, saying Mr Joyce's appointment demonstrated that National still had a far-right agenda it wasn't being honest about.

Party president Judy Kirk dismissed the attack as "just politics".

- With NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News