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Rodney Hide (L) and Don Brash - Source: Getty Images/ONE News -
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Rodney Hide's political career has been tipped to come to an end at the November election.
Hide announced earlier today that he was stepping down as Act leader with former National Party leader Don Brash, 70, taking over.
Hide, who has been Act leader since 2004, arrived at a midday press conference with Brash by his side.
He did not say whether he would stay on as an MP or continue to hold his ministerial roles, though Brash made it plain he was eyeing former Auckland mayor John Banks for the Epsom seat held by Hide since 2005.
ONE News political editor Guyon Espiner said tonight that following the November 26 election "it looks like the political career's over for Rodney Hide".
He said Brash had made it "pretty clear that he doesn't see a place for Rodney Hide in the Act Party". But in parliament Act will need to find a new leader because Brash is not an MP.
Espiner said Brash's focus would be "with the public, the media, trying to generate as much support for Act in the coming election".
Hide said "all things for the future need to be considered".
"I am not going to be the leader of the Act Party and that's what today is about," he said.
Brash said Banks was popular in Epsom, a seat Hide won in 2005.
"What is crucially important for Act going forward is that people know that Act has Epsom in the bag," he said.
"Rodney assures me he could have won Epsom and he may well be right, but ideally I want someone standing in Epsom who can not only win it, but can be seen to win it months in advance. I think John Banks could do that."
Asked if there was any room for Hide if that came to pass, Brash said: "That's a discussion for another day".
He said the pair hadn't had a chance to talk about it.
Brash admitted it was common for politicians who lost the leadership to leave.
Hide puts on brave face
Hide said he would be backing Brash.
"I told the Prime Minister last night," Hide said. "I rang Don this morning to tell him he has my support.
"The process now is for Don to join the party. His membership will be accepted by the board on Saturday, and I've asked my whip John Boscawen to organise a caucus on Saturday where Don will have my full support to be leader and the board will ratify his leadership."
He said as far as the government is concerned it is business as usual, but for the leadership change.
Hide had said only yesterday that he would not give up as leader. But today he said the reason for that, was he had to speak with the Prime Minister who was overseas.
He said he assured the Prime Minister that the government still had Act's confidence and supply agreement.
Hide joked that he did not pay Don Brash's membership fee, but did say Brash has made a generous donation to the Act Party.
Brash said he was "deeply honoured to have been asked to become Act Party leader" and to have Hide's support.
"My objective is to raise the income levels of New Zealanders while ensuring all New Zealanders are treated equally under the law."
Brash explains tactics
Brash told the press conference he was aware he had put his friendship with Hide under intense strain in recent days but praised 'his friend's' work for Act and the country.
He said he had acted the only way he could under the circumstances, by announcing his desire for the leadership on Q + A on Sunday in the days ahead of it being confirmed.
"I think there is merit in having the country itself expressing a point of view, giving the public some degree of participation in the party."
He denies he held a gun to the head of the party.
"I want to save the party, not kill it," he said.
He also denied he had ever described Hide as "toxic", saying he had in fact said "the brand has become toxic".
Brash said his aim, if his leadership is ratified on Saturday, would be to ensure he can lift Act well above the 5% threshold so vital under an MMP system.
Labour warning
Labour leader Phil Goff was quick to react to the leadership change, warning of a "new extreme right-wing deal" between National and Act and saying that "Don Brash wants savage cuts to government spending, including health and education".
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters reacted by saying it was
a "manipulation of the political process to return to the failed
policies that started to cripple New Zealand in the 80s and
90s".
Watch a video of the announcement.
What do you think of the change of leadership? Have your say on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentskc said on 2011-04-29 @ 21:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
This absurd political posturing throws the spotlight on those potentially destructive aspects of MMP/coalition government. More than ever before, this country needs bold new thinking, not a regurgitation of the old. Remember - the people's mandate comes well before self-serving interests of politicians or parties in free fall. SKC North Shore.
ramage said on 2011-04-29 @ 18:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
Brash 70 the failed former National party Leader Banks 64 failed former Mayor of Auckland trying to rekindle their failed political careers. These men are dangerous right wingers who will take NZ down the road of their own failed political careers. What does this say about Act and Rodney Hide that he can be rolled by an outsider. Hide has been rolled as leader of his own party by someone who was not even a member, how opportunistic. NZ should take note of this bizarre event and beware ACT .
dmaclure said on 2011-04-29 @ 12:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
It gutted leadership coup as election coming up as short time preparing and spell disaster for NZ.
perturbed said on 2011-04-29 @ 12:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
Brash has a slightly crazed look on his face. Megalomania perhaps?
Dead Center said on 2011-04-29 @ 09:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
Key will have little choice but to do whatever Brash wants.. and he fairly much knows its. If Brash takes away enough of Nationals support, and he does have the capability too, then National will have to cave into Brash's demands to form a government. Brash or Peters will be the King makers and we will have minor parties dictating policy yet again.