KEY POINTS:
National made "change" a strong theme of its election campaign opening, but had no new policy on the day to lure voters.
Party faithful gathered at Auckland's SkyCity Convention Centre yesterday afternoon for two hours of entertainment and speeches to officially begin a campaign that had been running for a week.
National tried to warm up its audience with hired entertainment that belted out disco and soul songs from the 1970s - an odd juxtaposition for a party painting itself as fresh with a 'bright young thing' leader.
But after a slow start, the audience responded and the stage was set for a strong attack speech from deputy leader Bill English before leader John Key's appearance.
"These are people who three weeks ago told us the recession was over," Mr English said of Labour.
"Well, the reality of their economic analysis is about the same as the reality of the picture of their leader on their billboards."
Mr English accused Labour of operating a KGB-style surveillance operation, having a "ferocious" sense of entitlement to power and to taxpayer dollars, and of spreading misinformation about National's position on New Zealand Superannuation.
At the end of the tub-thumper speech, there was a change of pace as children from the Corelli School of the Arts performed National's campaign song, Brave Country.
Mr Key's speech focused heavily on the economy, but education and law and order also featured.
All three policy areas had one recurrent theme running through them - change.
"That's what Labour has delivered, and that's what National is here to change," Mr Key repeated as he worked his way through the policies.
The speech reiterated the major planks of what National is offering voters and Mr Key unveiled a pledge-card-style postcard with his 11 commitments on it.
A copy of the card will go into the letterbox of every household in the country.
The spectre of the international financial crisis loomed large in the speech and Mr Key made much of his qualifications to manage the economy through a tough time. "I've actually worked in the world of finance and business. Helen Clark hasn't," he said. "I've picked up a struggling business and made it grow. Helen Clark never has."
There was a defence of National's tax policy and KiwiSaver changes announced last week, and Mr Key ended the speech urging people to vote for his team and a more ambitious future.
His speech delivery was his best yet, but his later press conference was a timid affair.
In front of a captive audience of reporters covering him for television, radio and newspapers throughout the country, Mr Key did not have a clear news hook to discuss.
And at another launch nearby, his rivals had more than enough hooks to keep reporters satisfied.
