The Labour Party is deep in a major project to mobilise its voters and turn its election result around.
"We are pretty confident about increasing turnout at the next election," Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins said.
His colleague, list MP Jacinda Ardern, said when the votes of potential coalition partners are taken into account, Labour and National are only one or two percentage points apart in the polls.
"This will be a very close election," she said.
She's intending to try her luck again in the redrawn Auckland Central electorate.
The two were not willing to talk about preferred coalition partners, saying that would be decided by the way people voted on September 20.
"I'm not campaigning for the Greens or New Zealand First. I want people to vote Labour," Mr Hipkins said.
If people wanted to change the Government, Ms Ardern said a vote for Labour was the only alternative.
Labour Party leader David Cunliffe was stamping out his vision for New Zealand, she said.
He had already announced policy to address child poverty, the economy, manufacturing, forestry and regional development.
"I think all the statements he has made have been really bold."
The mood was hardening against the Government, and Mr Hipkins predicted that would intensify as election day neared. "A week is a long time in politics. Twenty weeks can feel like a lifetime and an awful lot can happen in that time. I think we are at one of those tipping points."