National is questioning whether Labour would be able to keep their promise of cutting GST off fruit and vegetables by next April if they win the election.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he's confident they can do it - but he's barely mentioning that plan at all while out on the campaign trail.
Hipkins the campaigner was grinding into gear, learning how ferries get repaired, on Friday.
But there are no changing hearts nor minds nor votes at one campaign stop despite a long chat.
"Maybe they've got to stop their spending and give a bit more back to the people," one person said.
"Not him, only because of the last lady that was there,' said another.
Hipkins said Labour wasn't "just going to places that people agree with us".
"We're going to places where we're seeking to change people's minds as well."
The 53rd Parliament dissolved on Friday.
After a breakfast speech as Prime Minister, Hipkins got on the campaign as Labour leader, meeting refugees and spending a grand total of seven minutes waving signs.
Asked if his heart is really in this, Hipkins said: "That's absolute nonsense".
"We've been talking about removing GST off fresh fruit and vegetables, we've been talking about free dental care. You get out there and meet people and talk about the policies that you're campaigning on."
But is he though?
Taking GST off fruit and veges is Labour's tax policy. It costs $2 billion, and while it's been widely crticised by almost every economist, it should be one of the biggest jewels in their campaign crown.
Newshub's been following Hipkins at every opportunity this week. We've gone back through all our footage to see how many times he mentioned it.
Not on Monday, nor on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he tickled a robot - but no mention of GST. There was also zilch on Thursday.
Hipkins didn't even mention it at his campaign launch.
"The campaign's only just ramping up and we've been on the campaign trail for a couple of days now," he said on Friday.
But even if his silent sales pitch works and Labour wins, getting the policy ready for April 1 would be an effort.
In just five months, they'd need to decide what's in and out, draft and pass legislation, and then get 3500 retailers to update their accounting systems.
"We're talking working groups, lawyers, consultants, accountants. It's going to be a bit of a mess," said National finance spokesperson Nicola Willis.
Hipkins said Labour was confident it can be done.
"We have looked at how long it takes to work tax changes through the system."
But, of course he has to win to get in first.
"I'm enjoying the ability to be on the campaign trail and get out and about a bit more freely than I was able to as Prime Minister," he said.
He's got a lot of getting out and about to do if he wants to have a dog in this election fight.
