Ardern unfazed by rise of 'personality politics'

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says she isn't concerned about the level of "personality politics" in this year's electoral campaign - as long as it doesn't crowd out policy discussion.

Ardern made the comments after outgoing United Future leader Peter Dunne called Labour's campaign launch "superficial" and The Opportunities Party leader Gareth Morgan labelled Labour's leadership change as putting "lipstick on a pig".

"I understand and actually totally accept and agree that people should know their politicians well," Ardern told Herald Focus.

Watch the full interview here.

"They should know their values, where they're coming from, their vision. But at the same time it should never be at the expense of what we are going to do and our policies and ideas."

Ardern also said she had no regrets that two of her first policy announcements since becoming Labour leader three weeks ago involved new taxes.

"We were addressing major issues that over the past nine years have sadly been postponed.

"[Regarding] Auckland's massive congestion problem, council want the option of a regional fuel tax - we'll give them that.

"When it comes to water, that was also about acknowledging our rivers are dying, we have to do something about it and I'm happy to take the hard decisions straight off the bat because that's what we need."

Ardern said she didn't think the demise of Peter Dunne's United Future would make a "substantial difference" to the overall election result and that her relationship with likely kingmaker Winston Peters was "absolutely fine".

"If we are in a position to negotiate I'll be looking forward to that very much because that means we're forming a government."