Labour has ditched its campaign slogan and billboards have started coming down as the party moves quickly to reshape its plans for the general election.
Jacinda Ardern and then leader Andrew Little earlier this year when he nominated her for the deputy leader position. Photo: RNZ / Brad White
The party's new leader, Jacinda Ardern, and deputy leader, Kelvin Davis spent much of their day in meetings as the 23 September election looms.
Andrew Little stood down as party leader yesterday.
Ms Ardern said while there had been some policy discussions, mostly their focus had been about how the party's campaign would roll out.
"What we'll be doing on the road, what our tagline is likely to look like, what the vibe of the campaign will be," Ms Ardern said.
"That 72 hours is not just about policy, but yeah we've got some work underway."
And will the current tagline 'A Fresh Approach stay'?
"Fresh Approach is gone."
Labour Party general secretary Andrew Kirton said the party had had a massive boost in donations since the leadership change.
This afternoon that total had hit $170,000 in online donations.
"We've had a real flood of interest in people wanting to volunteer and give money and had messages of support.
"We're going to take a few days just as Jacinda said to regroup, think through some of the things that she wants to do, she said she wants to stamp her mark on the party, we'll take a few days to do that, then swing into action."
Ms Ardern said she was genuinely overwhelmed by the support she and Mr Davis had received.
"I feel a huge sense of responsibility from that, that's people reaching into their back pocket and giving their hard earned cash to what we're fighting for this campaign and to support us and the team.
"So yeah, genuinely moved by that."
Mr Davis and the rest of the MPs standing in the Māori seats had opted to go off the party list, but the Labour constitution required the leader and deputy to take up places one and two on the list.
Mr Davis, who holds the Māori seat of Te Tai Tokerau, said he had decided to go on the list so as to avoid wasting time renegotiating the constitution when the party had more pressing issues to focus on.
