LeChevalierMal-Fait is whisked away from the complimentary breakfast and into the studio where a producer counts down to broadcast

Goodmorning New Zealand, you are listening to Focus on Politics on Radio New Zealand with me Jane Patterson.

And goodmorning also to Mr Mal-Fait, can I begin by asking you what your thoughts on the campaign so far are?

Thank you Jane, I’m enjoying it. I may not have a lot of practice at this politics lark but its invigorating to get out there campaigning, meeting people, whatever happens I’ve had a great time, did you see me chopping down that tree? Good wholesome fun. But hard work.

And the response when I go to visit has been phenomenal and no wonder Alliance is chaotic in its trade policy, no control over their wasteful spending budget and completely without shame in the way they have conducted themselves in government - Primary Industry Ministers who never showed up to work a day for a month after being appointed to well the Minister for Covid-19 Recovery.

What you would have to do to be sacked by ARichTeaBiscuit I do not know, and I’m not sure I want to find out.

People who I have met have been hungry not just to change from Alliance but for a real fresh start, a serious party with new ideas and new perspectives but a fundamentally decent way of doing things.

So what do you think the Kiwi voter positively wants, not just getting rid of Alliance, what differentiates you from ACT and National, your two rivals for center right voters?

When I talk to people, I don't just speak to them - they talk to me about their communities, the trouble they are facing, the worries they have.

And across New Zealand I hear a lot of people's concerns about decent jobs - prices are exploding no wonder. We are the party with the plan, starting with rebalancing education spending and priorities between University and technical education, to help businesses with the costs of taking on new people and also reform of our school system to give parents real choice and headmasters real power to reform.

People also ask about infrastructure, our crumbling roads, bridges, water and sewage - the real basics of government. Because despite Alliance spending they are ignored for ideological policies and wasteful programs. And here would be the difference between us and the ACT party where we both agree on the fact that Alliance's spending is wasteful. We are the party for real and substantial investment back into New Zealand's roads, ports, water, regional airports - the whole shebang.

Our water infrastructure is so basic - the government needs to help our regional councils deliver it safely and cleanly. No need for frills or big name projects that policans like Model-Frod can take photos in hard hats beside we need a government who will just help replace our aging pipes.

ACT while principled are more ideologically committed to reduced government spending, I respect them for it but what I hear on the doorsteps and in town halls Jane is that it's not what most Kiwis are looking for.

What about National, Leader Griffonomics is facing heat for proposing putting the $16 bil of debt back on students?

National they might have a big party machine but they appear sloppy compared to the great National leaders of the past Muldoon, Key, Winston. Aspects of the alternative budget could have been done with more polish and care. And you have the gaffe last night at the debate - the birdbrained notion that we would simply reverse a debt cancellation. As foolhardy and unfair as Alliance's decision to enact its policy to bribe students to turn out to vote for the struggling party. This would make an unfair situation worse, and to boot it would simply be illegal to target individuals in such a way. The case law we brought up in regards to the execution order from the minister for covid recovery also holds here - targeting individuals for selective punishment like that would be illegal and deeply wrong.

Just on the values side of it, I am a big believer in two things, Jane.

Forgiveness means forgiveness, and when you make an agreement you stick to it.

These students had their loans forgiven and the government was as foolish as it was to agree to it. Nationals' response lacked logic and imagination, with tight budgets because of Alliance's mismanagement we may need to make up the shortfall in university funding from general taxation, a graduate tax or indeed efficiency savings in government.

I don't pretend to have all of the answers to cans of worms recently opened by Alliance, my case to voters weighting up between Heartland and National is simple.

We have values, we stick to them. That I promise you. And if you're tired of Nationals clumsy missteps maybe a fresh party leading a future right of center government might be just the ticket.

ACT’s leader Gregor_The_Beggar is widely touted as being the winner of last night's debate, do you agree and is he a shoe in for Minister of Finance next term?

Certainly Gregor is a principled man with a great oratory but I don't think I did too badly for a first timer. My job last night was to put Heartland on the map, let voters who don't know about us what we are all about.

As for the Minister of Finance job well, Gregor isn't the only one who can balance a budget, I’ve done it as a business owner for 30 years and I did it for our local council too, any voter wavering between ACT and Heartland should know we are strongly committed to getting back to basics and balancing the budget.

At the debate did I have the flashiest attacks? Or the best TV clips but I am happy that our key message is out there and many Kiwis heard it for the first time. And that message of;

1. Getting control of the governments books,
2. Creating jobs with sensible spending and education reform,
3. And investing in Kiwi infrastructure,
4. While restoring good values to government

Is out there. But you're the political journalist, not me.

And speaking of the debate, the main contention draw against you was on social policy Alliance in particular seized on it with posts such as this not uncommon - your response?

That is a monstrous allegation from Alliance party individuals to share and repeat, my father fought real fascists in the sands of North Africa and my Uncle never came back from a Japanese death camp. Any connection of the Heartland party to thugs and skinheads even as a joke is deeply offensive and I refute it.

I want to be very clear Jane, I want nothing but a society where all people have rights and we are all respectful to each other. I tried to make clear yesterday that I support equal treatment for all important state services or rights - pensions visitations. My only qualm is where these new rights conflict with freedom of religion and freedom of speech. I don't think government should ever compel speech such as we saw in Canada with Pastor Pawlowski and I don't think the saying what you truly believe to be true according to your faith - politely and respectfully should be hate speech.

Do you not think your offering is too limited? For a party promising revitalisation is this enough.

Well Jane I’m not an audio copy of our manifesto, which unlike every other party in New Zealand we have published and let the public see. We have policy there on every issue from carbon pricing, to the defence force, from cracking down on rural crime and drug pushers to helping our export industries thrive.

I focused on the main planks last night but rest assured we have much more, and your listeners can read about it in our manifesto available at www.heartlandparty.org.nz/manifesto.

I’m sure they will, but on that the Heartland Party NZ has a unique emissions policy how do you justify it?

Jane, Jane - it's just common sense. How could our industries compete fairly and keep jobs in New Zealand paying decent wages if they are taxed for Carbon when our major trading partners don't do so. There needs to be fairness, I believe Kiwi farmers are the best in the world but you can't ask them to compete at a disadvantage.

On energy too our current political elite are in a state of delusion. We are jumping up and down about one barely used coal plant in Huntly. It's only ever on much in dry years, so one in five or one in ten. Meanwhile China is building a huge coal power station every day and keeping them on.

Not only is it a waste of perfectly good infrastructure dollars but it will bite us in the end. Look at the worldwide price of gas, it's more than doubled in the last few months. A bit of diversity would do us good, reduces risk.

See same principle as farming, grow a range of crops if one fails or spoils you have fallbacks.

As I’ve said before, what New Zealand needs is some good old commonsense and some farmhouse economics!

Thank you for the interview Mr Mal-Fait, that's all we have time for right now but perhaps if Heartland does succeed on Saturday you might return to the chair.