At some point the Nats need to pivot from hammering govt failings - current variation on the perennial "NZ sucks" campaign from oppn - and towards a positive case for what they would do differently.

There are plenty of failing to hammer! But hammering them is only half the job.

About 20-30% of the electorate is probably happy with just hammering failings, because they believe National is intrinsically more competent than Labour. This includes all of the rightish commentariat, and all of the Judith faction. But that is not enough to actually win.

That was the "stardust" that Jacinda brought to the leadership in 2017 -- the ability not only to criticise the Key govt, but to articulate a positive vision for how she might do things differently. That is her native register. But it is very much not Judith's native register.