National's broadcast capitalised on John Key at his best - short speech (no notes) then questions from the crowd. He could've been in any provincial town hall or cafe, but with professional lighting and cameras.
It's Key most relaxed, among constituents. He cut straight to the chase. "This election's about who can provide strong and stable government in difficult times ... who has credibility." No hype, no personality cult, on message.
Labour's broadcast, by comparison, was expensive and very clever - a slick, professional documentary linking party history highlights with their election policy. Michael Joseph Savage and housing. Norman Kirk and superannuation. Walter Nash and his great-grandson, MP Stuart Nash, opposing asset sales.
New Zealand's dark times were National's fault - waterfront lockout, Springbok tour, mother-of-all-budgets. Not an uplifting broadcast, but well executed until the second half which descended into boring attacks on National.
The Greens asked punters what "richer New Zealand" meant (not winning Lotto, obviously).
