TV 3 News

TV3 News

Election 99 - Bendon Closes - Otara Killing - The Last Kosovo Refugees Arrive

PoliticsToday the political leaders used their last chance to win their share of votes. Now it is the peoples turn to have a say.

Both National leader Jenny Shipley and Labour leader Helen Clark campaigned in Auckland today. Both walked the streets to reach voters. Shipley spending time on Auckland’s Queen St, and during the late afternoon at the Americas Cup Village, and Helen Clark around central Auckland centres and Manurewa.

The polls are showing a loss to National and a win for Labour.

But National president John Slater says poll are fickle and anything can happen. He detects a swing back to the National Party in the past few days.

Helen Clark spent the late afternoon at Newton’s Kings Arms Hotel where she spent the evening before the last election. Labour is confident of a win but has spent the last moments of the election campaigning strongly for the party vote.

Long-time Labour MP Jonathan Hunt predicts a Labour win with over 40% of the vote and National getting just under 30%.

TV3 Political editor Jane Young says Helen Clark is buoyant, that Labour’s campaign was the best of the two major parties, that National campaigned appallingly targeting Coromandel as a key failure for National strategists.

Young says the best campaigns were from ACT, Alliance and Greens. Jim Anderton, she says, was best in the debates. New Zealand First’s campaign was a nightmare, tripped up by its infighting, with its women MPs low on the list and with Suzanne Bruce’s GST fraud charges shadowing Peters’ campaign on honesty. She says New Zealand First is not a party without Peters or Tauranga.

Bendon Closes - Other News: Bendon closes its doors in Te Aroha - local businesses face $1000s in losses to the local economy.

Otara Killing - Police are seeking information in the killing of an Otara, south Auckland, Samoan tattooist. He was found dead with head injuries by his 18 year old daughter yesterday afternoon. Police say he was attacked from behind. Police spent today searching the house and the surrounding area. Neighbours have been asked to check their properties for possible weapons and other signs of evidence.

Kosovo Refugees - The Last New Zealand bound refugees from Kosovo have arrived at Auckland International Airport. The refuge appeal money is in the red. People are asked to make donations to the refugee helpline on 0900 44244.

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