The National Party's annual conference at SkyCity offered everyone another good look at leader Simon Bridges.
It was an opportune time, coming just before Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returns from leave and wresting public attention to a new mother taking top office, a sight unseen in New Zealand before, or anywhere else for almost 30 years.
Much has already been said of Bridges' performance at the conference, and his central policy of lifting teacher numbers to cut classroom sizes. Some have pointed out the policy has been wheeled out before, and they are right - but what matters is how it is wheeled out next time.
If it is successfully implemented, the images of Bridges, his wife and his young children on stage at the SkyCity Conference Centre announcing the policy will look especially good in review. But as of right now, Bridges has six to eight months to show his party and the country he has the goods.
The world economy is in slowdown and threatens to throw serious shade on New Zealand. Given the global situation, a downturn, considered overdue for New Zealand, could be even steeper than previously thought.