Greens hope their ‘eating, shopping’ style stands out

John Key often claims to be relaxed, but he’s got nothing on Russel Norman’s laid-back campaign style.

If selfies were votes, John Key would win the election hands-down. The National leader is at home wandering the country’s malls, obliging with a paste-on grin for everyone who waves an iPhone at him.

Norman, the Greens co-leader, doesn’t get mobbed for photos. But yesterday his campaign had all the cool of a retro Instagram filter. His party has developed some of the sharpest campaigns on the political scene. But this year its message is being drowned out by the hullabaloo of Dirty Politics.

Abandoning its carefully plotted path to polling day is not an option for a party with finite resources. Staying ‘‘clean’’ while every other party wrestles in the mire may be an attractive point of difference for those sick of malevolent tactics.

And so, while Key continued to fend off allegations and Labour leader David Cunliffe took the day to prepare for the Press leaders’ debate, Norman went for a stroll in Wellington’s bohemian Cuba Street quarter.

First it was business time. The Greens unveiled their wage policy in a community centre, pledging a minimum wage rise of almost $4 an hour by 2017. After the obligatory speeches and press conference, it was followed by a visit to a Living Wage employer, Miramar’s La Loca Boca Mexican restaurant.

Over a cheerful lunch of corn chips and chilangas, owner Lucas Putnam explained why he raised the wages of his 18 staff from $15.50 an hour to a base rate of $18.80. It’s costing him an extra $1000 a week. ‘‘Everyone here was ecstatic, of course, because everyone got a raise . . . I really do believe if people are comfortable, if they are not struggling for money, then they work better.’’

Then it was back to central Wellington, ostensibly to visit New Zealand-owned, sustainable businesses. Outside of politics, it’s called shopping and drinking coffee.

In Mandatory, Norman was measured up for a jacket by owner Clare Bowden. Local candidate James Shaw joked Norman is aiming to be the country’s first ‘‘hipster prime minister.’’

In Pegasus second-hand book store, Norman thumbed through biographies of Walter Nash and Norman Kirk. He settled on a $16 copy of Hollow Men by Dirty Politics author Nicky Hager.

There were plenty of photo-ops along the way, but no-one asked for a selfie. ‘‘This is campaigning Green-style. We do eating, we do shopping,’’ Norman said. They also do coffee – a good excuse to stop off at the Milk Crate, a seriously hip cafe.

Norman chats to a regular at the counter, but there’s no serious politicking. Instead of shouting over the Dirty Politics din, the Greens can only hope that staying out of the fray will send the disillusioned their way.

For video of Russel Norman on the campaign trail, see stuff.co.nz