Campaigning wraps up for NZ poll

Don Brash has shaken up the establishment

Campaigning for New Zealand's election entered a frantic final day on Friday, with the vote expected to be tight.

Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark wants to wrap up a third election victory, but is being pushed to the wire by the National Party's Don Brash.

Late campaigning was disrupted when a man threatened to blow himself up unless Ms Clark spoke to him.

Police arrested a man early on Friday after a 14-hour siege in a hotel in the northern city of Tauranga.

Police said they found a fake bomb.

It is thought the man, described as a 57-year-old Slovakian, was angry about a visa ruling.

More than 2,000 people had to be evacuated during the siege.

'Bargaining chip'

New Zealanders vote on Saturday, with the latest opinion polls showing the two leading parties neck-and-neck.

Mr Brash, a former central bank governor, has only been in parliament for three years, but has shaken up the establishment by vowing to soften New Zealand's ban on nuclear-powered vessels in its ports, and to discard some privileges for the country's native Maori.

Profile: Helen Clark

He says the long-standing nuclear ban is stifling relations with the United States, and its renegotiation could help with a free trade deal.

Ms Clark said: "What [that] tells me is that they really don't share the deep-held values of New Zealanders to be nuclear-free and proud and independent. They see it as just a bargaining chip for something else. I think that's wrong."

Mr Brash has also pledged to do away with the seven seats reserved for Maori MPs and welfare policies aimed at the indigenous group.

The challenger, who also promises tax cuts, said he was planning to visit New Zealand's three major cities of Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch on Friday.

Neither party is expected to win an outright majority, but will probably have to rely on smaller parties to make up a coalition.