New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key Smiles After the General Election in Auckland.
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key smiles after the general election in Auckland November 26, 2011. Reuters/Stringer

New Zealand's Labour Party's efforts to resurrect and repackage itself took off well on Wednesday with the leadership hopefuls holding a public campaign meeting in Wellington. The four candidates wanted the party to form the government in 2017. Senior leader Grant Robertson gave a speech to the audience comprising more than 600 people.

Buoyed by the enthusiastic response from the audience, Robertson said the election fiasco was the result of Labour losing touch with the voters. He said Labour needed to show people that it was the party of fairness and can help people meet their aspirations. Labour requires a new generation of leadership, which can do things differently and reach out, reports Stuff.Co. Nz.

People Not Convinced

The erstwhile rival of David Cunliffe said there will be no more acrimony in the party or washing of dirty laundry in public. Robertson wanted the new generation of Labour to be wedded to the future and ready for climate change; welfare of workers, small business and entrepreneurs; education, housing and health, reported NZ Herald.

Acting leader David Parker asked the party to introspect and said "I don't have to convince you to believe in Labour....The challenge is to convince the others." Parker said Labour must unite around a purpose and let the country unite around that. He said the reality was that "we have lost our connection with New Zealanders." He wanted to spend his political capital on fairer economic outcomes for everyone and create an economy that lifts all the boats, not just the "super yachts."

Anti-people National Govt

Another contender, Andrew Little, attacked the employment law in Parliament and said New Zealand never had a "more niggardly, nasty National government than the one now." Labour is the only party that took work seriously and balanced the rights of employers with workers' rights, he claimed. Mr. Little wanted fixing of party's machinery and criticised the caucus that is not "cohesive, and communicative. The issue was not talent but how to harness it". Little said Labour's challenge was to regain the trust of New Zealanders and claimed he has a proven track record and a "gut feel" that he can do justice to that mission.