For the third time in three weeks, the Labour and National leaders effectively square off against one another. The struggle for leadership pre-eminence shifts to Parliament following the pair's contrasting approaches to Waitangi Day last week and their "speech-off" the previous week.
The heat is on Clark more than Key. National's leader was acknowledged to have come out on top when the pair went head-to-head with major speeches two weeks ago. Opinion is divided on whether Key also fared better at Waitangi. He took a calculated risk in going to the lower marae and being photographed greeting Tuhoe activist Tame Iti with a hongi. It sees to have paid off. National appeared inclusive, Key looked prime ministerial. Clark stuck to her risk-free routine, shunning the lower marae where she was subjected to jostling and abuse in 2004. That left a vacuum which Key filled.
