KEY POINTS:
Labour and National in New Zealand are both taking some comfort from the massive defeat by Labor over the Coalition Government in Australia - Labour because it shifts Australia to the left and National because of the time-for-a-change factor.
Prime Minister Helen Clark is in Uganda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and National leader John Key is in the Antarctic.
Both distanced themselves from the domestic political implications of the defeat of an incumbent Government by a fresh new face.
But others in their parties discussed the parallels, which are strong.
Helen Clark has been Prime Minister for nine years and has been trailing in most polls since Mr Key took over the National Party leadership a year ago, though she continues to have high personal ratings in preferred Prime Minister polls. Mr Key has been an MP for only five years.
Mr Howard was dumped from office after 11 and half years by Labor's Kevin Rudd, who has been an MP for nine years, leader for just a year and whose party has been leading the Coalition for most of the year, though Mr Howard has maintained high personal ratings.
National strategist Murray McCully drew clear parallels between Helen Clark and Mr Howard. "What it shows is that when it is time for a change, even the most formidable operators get carried out with the tide," he said.
Deputy leader Bill English said any Government that had been in power a long time was more vulnerable "but they are only vulnerable to an opposition that is well organised and united and works very hard".
National would have to be as united and as disciplined as Kevin Rudd to beat Helen Clark.
Labour Party president Mike Williams said he was sure Mr Key would take comfort from the win.
"I think he will but I think he shouldn't."
There were no comparisons between Mr Howard and Helen Clark because Mr Howard had been a polarising leader.
Mr Rudd was not a newcomer, either, having been around Government for many years as a diplomat and top Government official.
"He is also fluent in Mandarin. I don't think Mr Key is fluent in English."
The issues were not comparable, either. he said. Mr Howard had made the mistake of promising something he could not deliver in low interest rates. And the Workchoice policy, equivalent to the former Employment Contracts Act in New Zealand, had had a great effect on people's lives.
There was a sense of the poor getting poorer and the wealthy wealthier and that offended the Australian sense of fairness.
Helen Clark said through a spokesman that Mr Howard had been a good friend to New Zealand. "The PM believes that it is important that the relationship between Australia and NZ transcends domestic politics."
However, it was also pleasing to see that the Australian Labor Party had won with the same policies as New Zealand on reforming the labour laws, Iraq and climate change.
Mr Key said in a statement that Mr Howard had worked hard on building a strong relationship with New Zealand. New Zealand would have to work very hard to ensure it got similar attention from Mr Rudd's administration. "The risk is that their focus turns more to China and to the East."
RUDD'S VICTORY
What it means for NZ according to
Labour
A victory for the left
National
Time to change a tired old Government
