The next Labour leader faces a daunting challenge not only in reuniting the deeply divided party but also connecting it with voters - and convincing them it is a government in waiting.
The four leadership contenders, Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta, David Parker and Andrew Little, put their case for election as leader to a crowd of about 200 members in Dunedin last night.
Each of the four mentioned how Labour had lost its way, lost its connection with voters, and appeared to be a divided party in crisis, unable to represent the aspirations of working Kiwis.
Mr Robertson, who celebrated his birthday with his mother in the city yesterday, was the home-town favourite, garnering extensive applause through his seven-minute address.
Flourishing a pledge card, Mr Robertson promised to reintroduce party regional organisers to build support throughout the country.
He would also form a 2017 election campaign committee as soon as possible, and every election hoarding he approved would have party vote Labour as the first message.
''I want us to be a force in our community every day, not just at election time.''
Ms Mahuta also drew on her Dunedin roots by telling the audience her parents met and fell in love in the city.
She acknowledged the party had lost touch with working class New Zealanders and said, if elected leader, she would bring a global perspective to the role, ensuring the aspirations of working New Zealanders were met.
Mr Parker, the finance spokesman in the election, has recently received flak from Mr Little about some key policies voters rejected last month - a capital gains tax and lifting the age of eligibility for superannuation.
With his mother in the audience, Mr Parker said he stood by the policies but he was prepared to review his position on a capital gains tax.
However, he indicated any government he led would lift taxes for higher-income earners who did not pay their fair share of tax.
Mr Parker was the only contender to mention Labour's shortage of funds and that he was prepared to go out and raise money for the party.
Mr Little made much of his success of uniting the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, which was in three parts, none of which talked to the others, when he became secretary.
''I made it into one organisation, a highly successful organisation. I have proven leadership.''
His passion for righting injustice and stopping the more powerful from taking advantage of the weak was something that drove him to seek the leadership, Mr Little said.
The leadership campaign continues tonight in Invercargill.
