Election campaign - officially it's just the start of it all

More cash than Lotto, smiles more enticing than any Miss Universe, arm squeezes warmer than your mother's, visions with more epiphanies than your favourite religious or poetic text - and even a movie star.

If you've managed not to notice or are yet to be "touched" - there's nothing to fear because ... the official four-week campaign period has only just begun.

It kicked off as usual yesterday on television with Helen Clark appearing relaxed but in charge and Don Brash in warm golden light sitting in his kitchen.

The 7.30 Friday night 12-minutes-a-side broadcasts on TV One were no doubt compulsory viewing for most New Zealanders.

And tonight on the small screen you'll be treated to the many promises of the smaller parties' leaders, who often make an awful lot more exciting and edgier ones because they know they'll never be able to fully implement most of them.

New Zealand actor Sam Neill, who made it big in Hollywood, will become Helen Clark's leading man for a spell when she joins him on stage at Labour's Auckland Town Hall campaign launch tomorrow.

Che Fu will stamp another celebrity endorsement on the party, together with the soulful sound of Auckland jazz band One Million Dollars - the sort of money politicians are now promising well before breakfast.

National is being somewhat more cagey about its Sky City Convention launch.

But the party maintains its focus will be on The Don.