Winston targeting young and old

Winston Peters' audience of Victoria University students today may not have been as adoring as his Grey Power ones but it didn't stop the New Zealand First leader trying to bring some new recruits on board.

On the campaign trail again after his 2008 election loss, Mr Peters spoke to about 70 students at the Wellington university, opening up for questions after suggesting those present consider signing up as New Zealand First members.

"You've probably got a thousand reasons why you would want to do that, but I'm here to answer any questions you may have to persuade you to do so -- or not."

He said he was settled in Auckland and re-affirmed he wouldn't stand for next year's election in his old Tauranga seat, but said no party decisions had been made on whether he would target other electorates such as Epsom or Helensville.

"I'd love to think about standing in Epsom but I would never want to have a duel of wits with an unarmed opponent," he said. The seat is held by Act leader Rodney Hide, who is having a bad week after conflicts with deputy leader Heather Roy came to a head.

Helensville, which Prime Minister John Key has a strong hold on, was an "interesting proposition" and campaigning there would force Mr Key to "turn up and have a debate," he mused.

Mr Peters was heckled throughout his 50-minute visit by a young Act Party member and delighted in telling the man why he was rude and misguided. "I don't want any Heather Roy signs from you guys from the Act Party," he said. "I know it used to be the policy of fascism that you'd go along (to addresses) and shout ... we're not going to have circa 1920s Mussolini in New Zealand in 2011."

He went on to say the Act Party's confidence and supply deal with the National Party was "sordid in the extreme."

Asked if he would consider joining a National-Act coalition if his party got enough votes next year he said; "That's not going to be a possibility at the next election."

Mr Hide's party would "slide apart" following the conflict exposed by the dumping of Ms Roy and his reluctance to account for it, he predicted.

When it came to the possibility of teaming up with Labour and commenting on issues surrounding the departure of rogue MP Chris Carter he wasn't so keen to criticise, other than to say those who turned on their party needed to make sure their reasons were justified and valid. "I think Mr Carter has not answered that question."

Mr Peters gave his party's take on issues from immigration, mining and Whanau Ora to the Emissions Trading Scheme, GST and pig farming.

Students pressed him on specifics and one even asked; "Will you make our trains run on time?"

That sparked a history lesson on Tranz Rail, which has had a rough run since being sold by the National government in 1993, run down and bought back at the end of Labour's recent term.

Mr Peters turned his sights to superannuation in a speech two hours later to Upper Hutt Grey Power members.