The election campaigns have begun, billboards have been erected, and if you drove into any of New Zealand’s main centres today, you will have seen them.
The TV ads have not started yet, unless you include the Prime Minister's brazen self-promotion prior to announcing the election date.
In America, they spend big money on discrediting each other.
To discuss the business of election advertising is Mike Hutcheson, an advertising guru. Co-founder of a number of agencies, including Colenso, he has also worked with production company Communicado, and was managing director of Saatchi and Saatchi.
He now heads a new venture focusing on ideas in business, called the Lighthouse Ideas Company.