Ardern's effect on the election is going global with many news organisations heading to New Zealand to cover the campaign and Australian papers featuring her on their front pages.
The one wrinkle in her day was having to deal with deputy leader Kelvin Davis who missed the memo about the change to the capital gains tax policy five weeks ago when Ardern took over from Andrew Little.
Davis recited Little's policy, which was to seek a mandate at the 2020 election for the introduction of such a tax if recommended by a tax working group. Ardern has ditched the notion of seeking a mandate.
But that issue has not harmed Labour's polling to date, with TV1's Colmar Brunton poll on Thursday showing Labour above National for the first time in 11 years.
National's campaign chairman and Finance Minister Steven Joyce said the party would change its television ads this weekend - replacing the controversial group running one - but he said that had been planned long ago.
Two new ads would feature National's family incomes package scheduled to take effect on April 1 and public services.
In the coming week, National would also try to lay out clear differences in approach between the parties especially on tax, trade and industrial relations.
"We are not going back to the drawing board," he said.
Labour is likely to be unfazed by a comparison of family incomes policies. While it would axe National's tax cuts, it argues 70 per cent of families would be better off under their plans.
Ardern and English will meet again in the second leaders' televised debate on Monday.
Tertiary plan causes stir
From Ahipara to Ashburton they told their stories to Herald journalists taking the pulse of small town New Zealand for the Heartbeat series. Twenty-one days from a tightly contested election, we've gone back to them.
We asked what was the most significant development this week, and whether it changed their vote.
No votes were changed - although some remain undecided - but it was Labour's tertiary education policy that captured the attention of most.
Party leader Jacinda Ardern announced new students will get one year of free tertiary education from next year, with the no-fees policy extended to two years by 2021 and three years by 2024.
Not a good idea, corporate lawyer Morgan Morris said. The 30-year-old Raglan mum watched 150 students drop out of her own classes after the first year - wasted money under the policy.
"Secondly, in my industry alone there are hundreds if not thousands of graduates that cannot find a job, this policy would only contribute to this problem."
Rolleston dad-of-two Nick Maitland, 41, was disappointed those who have previously studied didn't qualify, but Ahipara school teacher and mum Margie Donald described it as "great" - before taking a swipe at National for "a lack of ... clarity" in education.
Winston Peters' Wharehine constituent Lyn Johnston gave his port-shifting proposal the thumbs up, but his pension overpayment and exactly how it became public knowledge led to questions and mirth from others.
Taihape farmer Daniel Mickleson said voters' reaction to the scandal was key, but he also enjoyed seeing "Winston squirm".
