Labour cops flak over Fieldays stall: 'We're out and about'

Labour says its MPs are out and about, talking directly to people at Fieldays rather than sitting at a stall in the back.

By Russell Palmer of RNZ

The comments come after National Minister Chris Bishop and ACT leader David Seymour posted photos on social media of an empty patch of grass – claiming it was meant to be where Labour's tent would be.

"How symbolic. Nothing here. Barren and vacant, like their policies for farmers and rural NZ. Or indeed NZ generally," Bishop posted.

"First we couldn't find their policies, no we can't find them at all," Seymour wrote, "ACT's stall is big and bright right next door."

However, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the party never booked a space to have their tent at the event this year.

"We chose not to have a stall this year at all ... we've got a big team here but we decided that we'd actually get more engagement with people by getting out and about and walking around.

"So rather than being over in the corner by ourselves – which seems to be where David Seymour's hanging out – we're actually out and about amongst the people and talking to people.

"That space has certainly never been set aside for Labour because we never had any space booked."

Hipkins said much of his team was present at the event's first day on Wednesday, and he had also arrived on Thursday.

He said the decision not to book a stall was made "a year ago, probably" after finding their stall last year was less effective than walking around and engaging with people.

Labour had not announced its agricultural policies yet because the party was still working through it, he said.

"If you look at say the Federated Farmers, they released their [election] manifesto yesterday or the day before yesterday, and there's an awful lot of common ground in there.

"We do want to have that opportunity to engage with farmers as we continue to finalise our manifesto."

He acknowledged the party's public transport policy announced this week would not be much help to farmers, but said the party would announce a policy on rural school bus services, and would have more to say on rural health, ahead of the election.