They went but they’re still about
They might have stood down from leading their political parties but their presence is still prominent on New Plymouth streets.
It’s been nearly a fortnight since former Labour Party leader and former New Plymouth candidate Andrew Little handed over the reins to Jacinda Ardern.
Former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei stood aside soon after.
But Little and Turei seemed to have more stickability on their respective party billboards around New Plymouth streets than in real life politics.
New Plymouth Labour Party candidate Corie Haddock said new billboards with the new logo ‘‘Let’s Do This’’ were expected soon.
‘‘Hopefully they are coming in a few days and we’re waiting for those until we take down the old ones,’’ he said.
Haddock said the local party branch had limited resources.
‘‘It’s best to use our volunteers’ limited time and energy to do two jobs at one time.
‘‘It’s best to do the whole exercise of pulling down the old one, and putting up the new at the same time.’’
About 80 billboards had been nailed on to walls and fences around New Plymouth - half depicted the former leaders and half depicted Haddock as the local candidate.
Haddock said the party was not affected by having Little and Ardern still promoted as leaders.
‘‘It’s a way of being visible and engaging with the voter one-onone, which is the focus.’’
All the billboards were on private property, he said.
A large billboard promoting Haddock on Carrington St was nailed to a red fence of a fervent Green Party supporter, he said.
‘‘They were Green Party voters but their real focus is on changing the government.’’
Green Party candidate Stuart Bramhall said many of the old billboards featuring Turei and James Shaw had been replaced.
‘‘We’ve ordered more but they are the plain white ‘Party Vote Green’ variety,’’ she said.
Bramhall said the local Green Party organisation also had limited volunteers.
‘‘It’s hard to send people around the do the job twice.’’
Around 60 Green Party billboards had been put up in New Plymouth and North Taranaki, she said.
Turei and Shaw’s smiling features are still on display on Nigel Bates’ South Rd verandah.
‘‘My neighbour is a diehard National supporter so I thought I would have a splash of green among the sea of blue.’’
The Green Party had not been around to take the billboard down, he said.
‘‘Maybe I will keep it as a souvenir. I’ll use it for something.’’
But the Greens’ supporter may be ready to swap allegiances.
’’I’m undecided who I will vote for.
‘‘I’m a bit disappointed in it really.
‘‘It was all sweet for the Greens until Turei put her foot in it and dug a bigger hole.
‘‘They aren’t looking good, the only saving grace is Jacinda Ardern coming through.’’