INSIDE THE ELECTION MACHINES
The mission
National’s mission is to show it is ready to govern again, despite the string of dramas that beset the party — including three different leaders since March.
It hopes to secure the return of those voters that stuck with National from 2008 to 2020 but switched to Labour over the Covid-19 months.
Leader Judith Collins has sought to show National is still in tune with the concerns of voters by releasing a string of policies — from new roads and schoolbuilding programmes to law and order policy to crack down on gangs and the methamphetamine trade.
National’s biggest asset is its record when last in government — but the exodus of senior MPs and leadership stability has somewhat dented its record of stability and experience.
Early in the campaign, Collins has started trying to sow doubts about the prospects of a Labour-Green Government. That included saying Labour’s mild tax policy was a “stalking horse” to leave room for the Green Party’s more extreme tax policy.
The campaign trail
A day on the National Party campaign starts with a conference by phone or Zoom about 7am to talk through the strategy for the day ahead.
That meeting usually includes Collins, campaign chair Gerry Brownlee, campaign director Tim Hurdle, and MPs Todd McClay and Paul Goldsmith as well as Collins’ chief of staff, Megan Campbell. Health spokesman Dr Shane Reti is also taking a prominent role, because of the Covid-19 policy areas.
Collins then heads off for the day’s visits — sometimes speeches, or visits to local businesses. In between, Collins will squeeze in private meetings with party volunteers and fundraising events — although the Covid-19 restrictions have made fundraising dinners difficult.
Collins travels with a press secretary, and a staffer who films and puts up social media. She also has police security detail for the campaign — it is one of the few times the Leader of the Opposition gets it.
National is now releasing policy announcements at least every couple of days: Some are national and some are regional in focus, such as transport announcements.
The team behind the leader
Campaign chair Gerry Brownlee:
Brownlee and finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith are Collins’ Most Valuable Players — especially in an election so focused on the economy.
Brownlee took on the role from former party deputy Paula Bennett after Todd Muller rolled Simon Bridges as leader.
Brownlee can be prickly but is experienced, knows the National Party inside out and is not afraid to butt heads together when required.
Campaign director Tim Hurdle:
Hurdle worked for National ministers in the past — including Lockwood Smith in the 1990s and Brownlee from 2009 to 2013.
Has worked on several National Party campaigns both nationally and for candidates, including as Nikki Kaye’s campaign manager in Auckland Central in 2007 and Nicola Willis in 2017 in Wellington Central. Hurdle is politically savvy and was Crosby Textor’s New Zealand agent until February this year.
Crosby Textor, a sometimes controversial Australian-based company which has worked on campaigns in several countries, is not involved in this campaign.
Chief press secretary Janet Wilson:
Broadcasting veteran and media trainer Wilson and her deputy, former journalist Michael Forbes, do most of the campaign travel with Collins.
Wilson also does the coaching for the televised debates, with help from husband Bill Ralston. The pair previously prepped former leaders Sir John Key and Sir Bill English for debates.
MP Nicola Willis is again being used to fill in as “Jacinda” in the practice debates, having acted as Helen Clark and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the past.
Wilson worked as an external media trainer to both Key and English, as well as several National Party MPs and candidates. She moved into the chief press secretary role when Muller took over the leadership, and stayed on under Collins.
Party president Peter Goodfellow:
National is served again by longstanding party president Goodfellow and general secretary Greg Hamilton.
It has been a more fraught campaign than usual, partly because of the need to reopen selections in three electorates: Rangitata, Clutha-Southland and Auckland Central.
The party hierarchy are charged with matters such as candidate selections and fundraising — a job that is much easier to do in Opposition.