NZ Election 2020: Labour planning to revisit coalition Government policy casualties

Labour's first policy of the campaign is a recycled National scheme, but it's also planning to revisit some of its own policy promises that became casualties of the coalition Government.

Labour painted the Auckland Town Hall red on Saturday.

"Let's keep going, let's keep rebuilding, and let's keep moving," Jacinda Ardern told Labour Party supporters.

Rewind three years and it was a different message.

"Let's do this," the Labour leader said at the time. 

But there was plenty Labour didn't do.

At the same launch in 2017, Labour promised to "remove speculators' unfair tax advantages". Labour's given up on a capital gains tax and KiwiBuild's goal of 100,000 houses, but the scheme will stay. 

"I don't resile from putting effort into dealing with our housing crisis."

Labour plans to keep light rail in Auckland alive too, but as light metro, going above and below ground, separated from traffic

"We don't think a tram competing with pedestrians and cars on the road corridor can achieve the speed and efficiency Auckland needs," says Labour's Transport spokesperson, Phil Twyford.

Ardern has declared this a COVID-19 election, but is promising traditional Labour Party policy as well. That looks to include what unions have been agitating for - more sick leave.

That wasn't the policy announced on Saturday.

But there's something Labour won't do - decriminalise cannabis if the referendum on legalising its recreational use fails.

"If the result is no, that's a pretty clear indication that New Zealand voters don't want a change," said Justice spokesperson Andrew Little.

Ruling out decriminalising cannabis, but repealing the three-strikes legislation could be back.

"It's a piece of legislation that's achieving some pretty bizarre results," Little said.

Labour eyeing up policy it couldn't get across the line with New Zealand First, perhaps preparing for a Government without the self-proclaimed handbrake.