Usually, we get only endoscopic glimpses of party sororicide before the vanquished are made to stand behind the leader, smiling that quintessential political smile that hasn't connected with their eyes since last July. Mostly thanks to all the broken high heels and shoving in the Green Party, this year's candidate rankings look more like 3am on Courtenay Place. Their co-leaders have been displaying that other political smile you get by sucking air through your teeth, as more members and staff tell their Elizabeth Kerekere stories to media.

Labour candidates will be required to agree that nothing important happened before February 2023. “Let's Do This” is now “Let's do something else”. The “Policy Bonfire” is on the bonfire, replaced by the more toothsome “bread and butter” issues. At $8.50 a block of butter, can I suggest they drop the metaphors completely and just promise to make bread and butter cheaper.

Christopher Luxon's handlers will be worried that he delivers every statement as if his next one is going to be “And the workshop on Corporate Synergy begins in 2 hours”. National continues to make itself the smallest target possible, worried Labour will steal its ideas, which is like worrying that Labour will steal Luxon's comb.

Josie's Stuff column is here.