Opinion: Time to focus on policies, not personalities

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern at her first Labour Party policy announcement in Auckland's Viaduct on Sunday.

So far this election campaign it seems to be all about individuals - with the personalities and actions of the leaders taking precedence over meaningful policy debates.

Of course when the parties are handing such irresistible stories up on a plate, it's no surprise they are the stories dominating news coverage.

In the last week there has been the flurry of excitement of Jacinda Ardern replacing Andrew Little, with the "Jacinda effect" credited by some for a surge in support for the Labour Party.

Then of course there is the focus on Metiria Turei and the calculated risk she and her party took when they decided she would speak out about her past dishonesty. It has divided the nation and even her party and is a story that shows no signs of slowing down, with the resignation of two Green MPs and her refusal to stand down as co-leader.

And when those two were not dominating the headlines, there was prime minister Bill English and those alleged 450 texts.

For once Winston has been relatively quiet, though we know he has the ability to create headlines when he wishes, and no doubt will again before the election is upon us.

So what does this all mean? When it comes to deciding how to vote, how much you 'like', identify with or trust a party's leader will always have an impact on which party gets your tick. But should that be the sole or dominant reason? I don't think so.

With just over seven weeks to go until the election it's time for the parties to tell us what they as a party they stand for, what policies they will introduce and what changes they will make to our lives if they are elected.

On a local level, we look forward to bringing you just that over the coming weeks.