Have you noticed the new Labour Party hoardings appearing around the country?
The traditional Labour red seems to have been pushed into the background. In its place we’re seeing mixtures of pinks, lighter purples and softer hues.
Now, perhaps I’m reading too much into a colour palette.
“Who can actually put together 61 MPs?”
And if National and Labour finish anywhere near each other, and if the arithmetic gives them a comfortable majority together, then the political conversation could become very interesting indeed.
Because Christopher Luxon might discover that the easiest way to remove the troublesome coalition partners he has been complaining about isn’t to negotiate harder with them.
It might be to change the partners altogether.
And if Labour reaches the same conclusion from the opposite direction, we could find ourselves looking at something New Zealand politics has rarely contemplated:
The two traditional major parties putting aside their differences and governing together.
Would they agree on enough to make it work?
That’s another question entirely.
But one thing is certain.
Don’t look at one poll and declare the election won or lost.
Watch the arithmetic.
Watch the campaign.
Watch the language.
And perhaps, just occasionally... watch the colours.
