Labour leader Jacinda Ardern on tertiary study, fitness and advice

Students won't get a three-year holiday with Labour's free tertiary study policy.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern spoke to Newstalk ZB's Kerre McIvor and Mark Dye about incentivising students to work hard.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern wants to incentivise students to study hard. They'll have to pass at least half of their papers to get three years of free education. Photo / Dean Purcell

She said students would have to pass at least half of all their papers to continue getting the free education. To help students ensure they we're on the right course she wanted to improve careers advice in schools.

"We want every school leaver to leave school with a plan. A plan that works for them that really means they've got a better chance of succeeding.

"For those who go in for the free year of tertiary education actually when we fully roll it out to three years you have to pass 50 per cent of your courses to keep going.

"Certainly I agree with the need to keep an incentive in there for people to keep working hard so we've built that into the system."

The bodyguards trailing Ardern on the campaign have had an unexpected side effect - they've put the Labour leader off her exercise.

Members of the Diplomatic Protection Service (DPS) accompanying Ardern have created a stir, with fans of one of the bearded officers starting the #hipsterspook hashtag on social media.

And Ardern has revealed that having the officers assigned means she feels self-conscious about attempting a run.

McIvor had asked how she clears her head during the intensity of the campaign and whether she is running or swimming.

"In the last four weeks of a campaign the Opposition leader suddenly picks up DPS. And they are just with us in those last four weeks.

"That means if I go out for a walk or a run they come too. And I have to admit I'd be a little bit embarrassed if they came running with me right now because it would be a fast-paced walk, probably."

Ardern said she used to be a keen runner while living in London but has become more of a walker since, with that dropping away since she became leader.

When asked who she got advice from Ardern said her mum and dad were still key influencers.

"They are salt of the earth. Dad was a policeman for 40 years, mum ran the school canteen.

"They've got a pretty good gut sense of where they think things are at. It's as good as any advice I'll get from everyday New Zealanders. I really listen to that."