Smith fires opening election shots

COLIN SMITH/Mail Photo

SAY WHAT?: Nelson MP Nick Smith enjoys a joke during his election campaign launch last night.

Relevant offers

Politically incorrect jokes -- including jibes about Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen's sexuality -- marked the campaign launch for incumbent Nelson MP Nick Smith.

Dr Cullen's sexuality was first questioned in a speech from master of ceremonies and Nelson radio personality Kent Robertson during last night's campaign launch to a crowd of around 300 at the Nelson Yacht Club, made up largely of party faithful.

Comparing Dr Cullen to Nelson Labour -- and openly lesbian -- candidate Maryan Street, Mr Robertson said the pair were both middle-aged, had grey hair and wore spectacles, and "they are both slightly feminine", to rapturous applause and laughter.

Deputy National leader Bill English was in town to officially launch the campaign and said he had recently been in a television make-up room with Dr Cullen, who had allegedly jibed, "I must try harder at being the token heterosexual in Caucus."

He later went on to claim that Labour had resorted to stealing economic policy from "red-neck Aussies" in Western Australia.

Ms Street said this morning any suggestion that Dr Cullen was homosexual was "ludicrous". "If this is the way the National party is going to run this campaign, they will find the wrath of the electorate on them," she said.

But it was Dr Smith's night and he used the opportunity to urge Nelson National supporters to push for the party vote --a win not made by National in Nelson since 1957.

Dr Smith, who has won the Nelson electorate with increasing majorities since 1990, announced his plan for Nelson under a National government.

A key target was home affordability and he slammed Labour for doubling interest rates, costing Nelson families around $50 million each year.

Nelson taxpayers had spent $20 million on public transport yet had received just $160,000 back on it, he said, pushing for the Southern Link and receiving some of the biggest applause of the night.

A revamp of Nelson's court house and water supply, a push for a conference centre and the aquaculture industry and a reiteration of National's pledge to fund the 12-month programme for breast cancer drug Herceptin were also big crowd pleasers.

Other items he promoted included a study into amalgamating the Nelson City and Tasman District councils.

The Green Party also launched its campaign at Fairfield House in Nelson last night, with the help of Nelson publisher Craig Potton and party co-leader Russel Norman, introducing Nelson candidate Diana Mellor.

"While we are pushing for the party vote, it is great to have such a strong candidate to present the Green case for sustainability and fairness in the Nelson area," Dr Norman said.

Ms Mellor said she planned to focus on the "use and abuse" of water, as well as affordable housing in Nelson in the lead-up to the election.

- © Fairfax NZ News