Labour and Nats set scene for campaigns

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Two contrasting campaign launches have set the scene for the next six weeks leading up to the October 14 general election.

While Labour chose to launch its campaign on Saturday with a dental promise, National opened its campaign with an event that had more than a hint of American-style politics.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins launched their campaign with an offer that would see everybody under 30 receive free dental treatment by 2026.

In this sense they were stealing something from their main ally the Green Party, who promoted it first. Perhaps internal polling and focus groups show this would be extremely popular with the general public.

Labour’s opening was marred by deliberate, planned interjections from Brian Tamaki’s Freedoms NZ party, which some see as a warning that the campaign proper could be disruptive and possibly even violent.

Tamaki ended the weekend by promising an event in Wellington which he said would attract thousands. He also put out a message to Winston Peters to join with him, saying they were friends.

The next night National showed its security was better, having screened those who registered for the event.

Chances are any protestors would have been drowned out in the razzamatazz that led to Christopher Luxon’s entry as all of his candidates were introduced individually — forming what looked like a bodyguard for their leader.

National chose not to use the occasion to launch any new policies, instead producing a pledge card that outlined all their already announced proposed legislation and actions.

The only thing the two launches had in common was both leaders trying to get on to rugby league’s Warriors coat tails as the team enters the playoffs for the first time in years.

Choosing which of the two launches was the most effective probably depends on which party you support, but National did at least prove it could put on a good show.

In the eyes of political commentators this leaves Chris Hipkins where he has been for some time — fighting to reinvigorate the Labour movement and reverse a series of negative polls.

Labour believes that Hipkins will prove to be the better campaigner but after a slightly nervous start, Luxon is looking more at ease when facing the public and, more importantly, the media.

Both main parties now face the hard grind of more than a month on the road fighting to get their message across to the undecided.

At the same time Act, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori will be putting their case and trying to avoid being overshadowed by their bigger allies.