Prime Minister John Key has brushed aside criticism from former National Party leader Don Brash, saying there is nothing new in his comments.In a speech at Orewa on Saturday night, the former National Party leader said while Mr Key was doing well in the p
Prime Minister John Key has brushed aside criticism from former National Party leader Don Brash, saying there is nothing new in his comments.
In a speech at Orewa on Saturday night, the former National Party leader said while Mr Key was doing well in the polls he had some serious concerns about the Government's direction.
"We need to govern in a way which builds prosperity and recognises the magnitude of the problems we face as a country," Dr Brash said.
Dr Brash, who chairs the 2025 Taskforce set up to advise the Government on how New Zealand can catch up to Australia, said we could not do so on the current policy track.
He also repeated his belief that there was no need for separate Maori seats in Government and on councils.
Mr Key said Dr Brash's ideas were very right wing and similar to the ACT Party's policies.
"There's nothing wrong with the but it's not the prescription we campaigned on," he told TVNZ's Breakfast today.
"National was set up as a very moderate, centre-right party. The hard right of National broke away some time ago into the ACT Party."
National was in Government during tough economic times but had supported the economy, Mr Key said.
"If we hadn't done that the recession would have been much deeper, a lot of kiwis would have lost their jobs."
