54 days until general election

What the party leaders - and the voters - need to do before the general election on September 17:

HELEN CLARK

* Convince voters she is still in touch with what New Zealanders want and think.

* Show she is willing to clear out the deadwood in her Cabinet and get tough on errant caucus members.

* Prove she has fresh ideas for another term.

* Persuade voters they will see an improvement in their real incomes and standard of living during a third Labour term.

* Assure the country that she does not have a hidden social agenda.

DON BRASH

* Demonstrate that he will not be out of his depth as prime minister.

* Reassure voters that he can muster a competent Cabinet from his MPs.

* Convince voters he won't slash health and education funding to pay for tax cuts.

* Prove that he has not got a hidden right wing agenda.

* Show he can work with Winston Peters.

* Demonstrate he can handle a crisis.

YOU, THE VOTER

* Enrol: Voters are urged to enrol by August 17 to get on the printed roll. Miss that date and you need to enrol by 5pm on September 16 . You have to be on the roll to vote. Questions phone 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56)

* Vote: Under MMP you have two votes - one for your local MP and the other for the political party you support. The turnout in 2002 was 77 per cent - low by New Zealand standards.

* Make an informed choice: Weigh up the important issues and measure the parties against each other. Be involved: Sift what the politicians say. Read, listen, watch.

* Ask questions: If you have any questions about policies, issues, enrolment or the process of voting in New Zealand's fourth MMP election contact us and we will endeavour to answer your queries in the 54 days of this campaign (see email address below).

MINOR PARTIES

New Zealand First: Satisfy voters it will be a responsible coalition partner.

The Greens: Convince people they are not radicals and that they have more to offer than environmental policy.

United Future: Show that it is the most stable coalition partner for either National or Labour.

Act: Persuade people that a vote for Act is not a wasted vote.

The Maori Party: Convince voters it will be a more effective voice for Maori than Labour.

The Progressives: Jim Anderton needs to convince Wigram voters that he is a necessary and relevant voice in Cabinet.