It took National far too long to get to grips with MMP.
In 1996, 1999 and 2002 we were still running FPP elections with each electorate working more or less independently to win the seat and little national (or National) strategy for the party vote.
But anyone who has been involved with the party in subsequent elections is in no doubt that it is the party vote that counts.
Winning electorates will get the victors into parliament. But it’s winning enough of the party vote to form or be part of government that gets them into power.
It’s obvious from the blue hoardings which have sprouted up around the country that National wants the party vote.
It is much less clear what Labour is seeking.
Dene Mackenzie, pointed out in the ODT that Labour MPs and candidates don’t regard being associated with Phil Goff as any help which explains why neither his name nor photo are on any hoardings outside his own electorate.
They are red and have the Labour logo but they do not expressly solicit party votes.
Anyone who doesn’t understand MMP and know the importance of the party vote – and there are still a lot of them – could well think they’re just being asked to vote for a candidate.
Homepaddock 
We are nearly 400 kilometers into a road trip through Hawkes Bay, East Coast, and back to the Rangitikei via Taupo. Amazed at the coverage of the “blue” signs – in some areas every few kms. I said if we had $1 for each sign we passed we would pay for the fuel.
I think we have seen 4 “red” ones.
Interesting observation about National being slow to adopt the MMP philosophy,Hp.
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I’ve driven from Christchurch to Dunedin in the past week and like you, Fred, noticed lots of blue signs, a few red and only one green hoarding.
This could reflect a rural bias and there may well be a more even spread in towns and cities.
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Up here in the big(ish) smoke, there is an even spread of bill boards for the red team and the blue team, with a leavening of green and maori party ones (out west) as well.
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