Week six of the election campaign saw National leader Don Brash revisit the race issue, saying his party will treat all New Zealanders on the basis of need not race. The Maori Party says National's plan to remove race based funding has ruined the chances of a coalition between the two.
Monday
National vows to speed up the treaty process and says agencies set up to deal either exclusively with Maori or with Maori issues will be reviewed.
Representatives of eight parties took part in a Radio New Zealand election debate on treaty issues in Hamilton. United Future Party wants all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims lodged within two years and Labour agrees the Waitangi Tribunal is taking too long. Neither the Greens nor the Progressive Party want a deadline. The Maori Party say some full and final settlements will need to be revisited, because Maori agreed under duress.
The Maori Party has released its health policy, which promises free health care to those under six and over 60. It wants more health funding devoted to tackling the growing diabetes problem.
Tuesday
Labour has launched its transport policy, saying it is committed to sorting out Auckland's transport infrastructure. With a third of the population living in Auckland, the city's roading woes are a major election issue and both Labour and National are planning to spend over $1.2 billion on transport in the next three years. The Greens want $500 million of transport expenditure earmarked for public transport.
The Green Party wants to retain the Special Benefit and restore community economic development to government as part of its work and income policy. The Greens argue the Special Benefit, which Labour is planning to scrap as part of the implementation of their Working for Families package, should be retained until general benefit levels are enough to live on.
Wednesday
Advance voting has begun in the 2005 general election. The Electoral Office is urging those who will be overseas or travelling in New Zealand on election day to vote in advance. Voters can check their details on the printed electoral rolls available at any PostShop, Registrar of Electors Office, library or courthouse.
The Act Party's prison and punishment policy would deliberately make prisons unpleasant so criminals wouldn't want to go there.
National leader Don Brash has laid down the law on his party's tax cut policy saying it will be the bottom line in any coalition agreement. But New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has slammed National's plan to borrow to pay for tax cuts and on current polling New Zealand First may be National's only hope of forming a government.
National also came under fire from Peters over the leaked emails from Act and the Business Roundtable which show the Business Roundtable and key Act figures helped Brash take the National Party leadership in a coup against Bill English two years ago. The National Party is investigating how the emails from Act supporters and the Business Roundtable made their way to the Sunday Star-Times.
Thursday
Personal tax cuts took centre stage at the TV One finance leaders' debate. The economy has been a hot issue during this election, with many people making it clear their vote rests on what parties can offer them in monetary terms.
Maori Party policy calls for Maori electorate seats to be entrenched in legislation requiring a 75% majority in parliament for any change.
Friday
A One News Colmar Brunton poll shows New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is facing a desperate fight to keep his Tauranga seat, with his electorate support plunging.
National says it will introduce "plain English reporting" in schools so parents know how well their children are doing in the classroom. The party says it will introduce summary subject grades for NCEA results.
Saturday
The Green Party suspects National may be behind anti-Green pamphlets delivered around Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The pamphlet warns voters that the Greens will introduce a capital gains tax on family homes, increase petrol and diesel taxes and cut defence spending by 50%. Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says the leaflet is 50% outright lies and 50% gross exaggerations.
Sunday
The latest One News/Colmar Brunton poll shows National has shot up six points to 46% while Labour drops five points to 38%. The Green Party is down one point to 6%, New Zealand First is steady on 5%, the Maori Party is up one point to 2% and Act is down one point to 1%. United Future and Destiny New Zealand both have 1% support. Labour leader Helen Clark says it is still a close race and is describing the One News poll as a "rogue" survey.
The Act Party has officially launched its election campaign with leader Rodney Hide hammering the line that only Act can help National form a government that will deliver tax cuts.
