Two views have been posted on this, first from Labour evangelist Te Reo Putake (as well as more of his “Ra Ra, a win in any form is good enough!”)

There is an election to win. Clearly, that election can’t be won on personality, nor should it be.

We, on the left, are about making the lives of NZers better and that will take appropriate, acheivable and financially sound policy from the LP and the Greens. There are good signs in both party’s housing proposals that they can dovetail their thinking and the Manufacturing Enquiry shows they can work together well.

I don’t much care whether readers here vote two ticks Labour or one tick Green, one tick red, but we have to move on to convincing our respective parties to put up policies that voters will care enough about to both get on the roll and then get down to the both on the day.

If the left don’t win the next election, it won’t be Shearer’s fault, it’ll be ours.

And a response from ‘fatty’:

The last two have been (and arguably every election before that). Donkey’s current popularity is personality based.
Personality is more important than policy.

That doesn’t mean Labour needs a leader who will do the gangnam on the day of an important treasury report…it means the Labour leader’s personality must resonate with voters needs and wants.

The current Labour leader’s personality must include these traits: decisive, coherent and confident.

You are right that the election shouldn’t be based on personality, but you are wrong that it won’t be based on personality.

I’m very much on fatty’s side on this. Plausible policies are important, but most people most often ultimately base their vote on personalities.

The best snake oil in the world won’t be bought if the salesman is not believed, trusted or liked – and there’s a fair bit of like in that mix.