Media advisory: Heartland Tour starts

Wednesday 6th Oct 1999

Richard Prebble

Media Release -- Other

ACT's new crop of farmer MPs will present themselves on the steps of Parliament this morning (11.45 am outside steps of Parliament).

ACT's list contains a record number of farmers, including three in the top ten

Today Owen Jennings (list no 6), Penny Webster (list no 8), Gerry Eckhoff (list no 9) and Andy Davies (list no 14) will drive their king cab ute into Parliament this morning for the commencement of the ACT Heartland Tour.

The two week tour will take them through the heartland of both the North and South Island, with public meetings and farm meetings in Te Puke, Ngatea, Edgecumbe, Whakatane, Reparoa, Taupo Hastings, Himatangi, Martinborough, Carterton, Pahiatua, Rangitikei, Blenheim, Ward, Kaikoura, Inverness, Rotherham, Culverden, Amberley, Rangiora, Banks Peninsula. Ashburton, Temuka, Pareora, Waimate, Weston, Palmerston and Mosgeil.

On current polling Owen Jennings, Penny Webster and Gerry Eckhoff will be MPs after the election, and given ACT's ability to campaign, it is likely all four will be in Parliament. Penny Webster is a former Auckland President of Federated farmers. Gerry Eckhoff is a South Island high country farmer and conservationist. Andy Davies is a Cambridge farmer and lawyer.

The four will be farewelled by ACT Leader Richard Prebble at 11.45 am at the steps of Parliament.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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