So what’s the magnitude of the challenge for we Nats when we set about winning a fourth successive term in government?
A little one, it turns out.
According to the NZ Herald in this report:
Labour has chosen Andrew Little as its new leader.
Mr Little, who emerged the winner after a tight battle that went into a third round of voting, said it was an “immense privilege” to have been chosen.
“Labour is the party that has always been at the forefront of real and meaningful change that benefits all New Zealanders and that is the tradition I will honour as leader.”
The change at which it has been to the forefront in recent times, of course, is its propensity for changing leaders.
And now that Andrew is in charge we can expect a change in policies, because he wasn’t too chuffed about the ones Labour took into the last election.
Alf was going to look much harder at Little’s elevation to the leadership for the edification of his constituents, few (if any) of whom care much for Little, or Labour or its policies.
But he has been beaten to the draw by the splendid Ele at Homepaddock.
She looks at an analysis of the vote and concludes it isn’t a ringing endorsement.
Which it isn’t.
Does Alf much care?
Not really.
And Ele’s post means he can wander down to the club and nestle down with a few mates for a natter about life, the universe and all that.