Labour is changing its campaign tactics, attacking Prime Minister John Key's leadership as it strives to counter his personal popularity.
Party leader Phil Goff, whose rating is less than 10 percent compared with Mr Key's 50 percent-plus, on Tuesday listed 10 "leadership failures" ranging from 100,000 Kiwis having left for Australia under the government's watch to economic growth of 0.4 percent.
"The simple fact is things have got worse since he has been prime minister," Mr Goff said.
"He needs to step up and explain his record, rather than fending off scrutiny with glib one-liners designed to distract from the real issues."
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Mr Goff says Mr Key has been using a series of excuses, like the Christchurch earthquakes, to explain the government's $18 billion budget deficit.
He believes New Zealanders look up to Mr Key as a figurehead because of his personal fortune - he is worth more than $50 million - and hope he can improve the country's fortunes as well.
"A look at his record shows his success in business hasn't transferred to running the country and he has failed to deliver," Mr Goff said.
Mr Key says Mr Goff is in denial, refusing to recognise the impact of the earthquakes and the international recession the government had to deal with after winning the 2008 election.
While Mr Goff was delivering his latest assault, Mr Key was in Christchurch announcing a new $20 million temporary stadium for the city so it can host sporting and cultural events while the quake-damage AMI stadium is repaired.
Construction will start next week and the 17,000-seat stadium is due to be completed by March next year.
And mid-way through the second week of the campaign attention is still focused on Epsom, where ACT's John Banks has to win to keep the party alive and provide an ally for National in Parliament.
For that to happen, National supporters need to vote tactically.
Mr Banks is polling behind National's Paul Goldsmith and ACT wants a direct message to come from the top.
It wants Mr Key to endorse Mr Banks, something Mr Key has resisted so far, but he is expected to step in soon to make sure Epsom voters know what they're expected to do.
NZN