Brash bashes farm dog chip plans

National Party leader Don Brash got almost as many cheers as the competitors at the New Zealand Shearing Championships when he hit out at Labour's plan to microchip dogs.

"That has to be one of the dopiest ideas to come out of Wellington for a very long time," Dr Brash told the capacity crowd gathered at the Waitomo Community Cultural and Arts Centre on Saturday night. He received a cheer as fervent as that heard at any National conference. But he was in staunch National territory and on the home turf of former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger, who also attended the event. MORE>>