Jacinda Ardern the marketing genius at the Otara market on Saturday.

The 2017 Kingswood Election Tour is, like the election, on the home stretch. The voyage to discover the national mood spends Day 13 with Labour leader Jacinda Ardern at the Ōtara Market in Auckland.

The big question on my mind as I interview Jacinda Ardern on the bench seat of the Kingswood is this.

Is she going to be the third New Zealand Prime Minister to grace the blue vinyl of the 1972 Holden Kingswood?

In 2005, I interrogated Prime Minister Helen Clark in the Kingswood before she went on to win the election. I dine out on the story because Clark accidentally sat on my hand which allowed me to claim I had touched the Prime Minister's bottom. Bill English was in the Kingswood on Monday. Only our hands touched.

Maybe Jacinda Ardern has heard about the bottom incident because she is keeping her distance. Across from her on the bench seat, you begin to see why people talk about star quality. It's not until you are face to face with Ardern that you realise the political value of her charm.

We put Ardern behind the wheel and get ready to fire a ferocious barrage of questions at her.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Ardern talks to Martin van Beynen in the Kingswood.

"Have you ever been in such a beautiful car?" I ask.

"This is a beautiful car," she says. "It feels quite nostalgic because my uncle used to own one of these in a beautiful gold. This is pretty classic, lovely."

It's not till later that I realise she didn't answer the question.

KIRK HARGREAVES/STUFF Martin van Beynen and Helen Clark in the Kingswood in 2005.

We are on the edge of the packed carpark at the Ōtara Market in Auckland. This is Labour heartland of course and Ardern is recharging her batteries with supporter love as the last stretch of the campaign approaches. Most people are here just for the vegetables but Labour people are out with placards and red sweatshirts.

Tyrone Walter has come along in his Labour T-shirt over a hoodie and says he's supporting Ardern "because she's young and vibrant".

The market is a testament to the diversity of South Auckland. Sikh turbans, muslim headscarves and women with flowers in their hair.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Ardern urges people to get out and vote.

You can hear Mandarin and Hindi and, from a booth manned by gentlemen from the New Zealand Islamic Information Centre, comes an Islamic chant.

UB40 blasts from a booth selling DVDs and tunes from Pacific artist Fiji emanate from another speaker. Hard Out Kiwi is flogging Māori fashion garments and opposite is the Green Party booth of Manukau East candidate Raj Pardeep Singh. Rain threatens.

Anyway on to the next question.

"How do we know you're not going to be a disaster as Prime Minister?"

"Well I have had nine years in politics. But before that I worked alongside a really effective Labour Government. I have seen it from both sides. I came in about the same age as Bill did and have had longer in Parliament than him when he became leader."

Her age meant she would do things differently and be collaborative where she could.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Kingswood Election Tour: Labour leader Jacinda Ardern with Manukau East MP Jenny Salesa at the Ōtara market on Saturday.

"There are some real pluses," she says.

"I had a rural upbringing. I'm a real pragmatist, a real get on and get things done ... I'm realistic about the pace at which I can get things done although I have a great sense of urgency."

Tax has dogged the Labour campaign and the nasty spectre of higher taxes has been a persistent theme of the criticism heard on the Kingswood tour.

This week Labour said it would seek a fresh mandate on any new taxes leading to charges of votes over principles.

Ardern says she understood people wanted certainty.

"That's why we put out the timeline. I felt really strongly about doing the work but I'd always said it would take us some time ... when I thought about it there was no reason why we couldn't do the work but also build in that it wouldn't take effect until people had seen it."

She would have dropped the tax policy entirely if she was being expedient, she says.

To look upon the Labour Party only as a party for the strugglers would be really sad, she says.

"We're planning to lift our productivity and want to ensure we move towards a highly skilled, high wage economy where people get access to education and training whatever their background.

"I want to ensure everyone has great opportunities."

While poverty has dogged successive governments, she believes she can fix it.

"I've spent enough time looking at the coal face of this problem to know exactly what needs to be done to fix it.

"It's about incomes..but actually there is an age when you see the worst of poverty. Zero to three. I know our plans will make a difference."

With six days left in the campaign, what's her message to the undecided?

"We can be better than this. A Government after nine years, you get the cut of their jib."

Voters had a stark choice between tax cuts and putting money into services.

"We shouldn't give up on the idea of having a decent health system, everyone having a home because we've had it before."

She thinks the polls "are all over the shop" and says Labour's own polls are showing it is tight.

"If people turn out we will change the Government, if they don't, it will be hard."

She is sad farmers feel singled out by Labour.

"I agree with them that the cities are a shocker (as polluters). To them I would say this is not about them and us. It's about us working together. I grew up in a farming community. They are an incredibly important part of our economy and some farmers do an incredible job.

"If we manage to enhance our reputation the world will look to us for our smart farming practices.

"We'll trade on that brand and we'll all be better off for it. It does mean we have to do some hard stuff but we can do it together."

Although the election was essentially a two horse race, the minor parties still have a place, she says.

"There is still a strong role for other parties... neither of us are looking to govern alone."

But how well does she know the Mainland where the Kingswood Election Tour originates? Time for a little quiz.

For instance, where is Riverton? Ardern says the West Coast when it's just west of Invercargill.

What are the Super 15 franchises for Christchurch and Dunedin? After a little confusion Ardern nails it.

"The Crusaders are my second favourite team after the Chiefs. I loved Andrew Mehrtens. He was so funny."

What's the lake that comes after Lake Tekapo driving west? Ardern is stumped. Never mind, most South Islanders wouldn't know either. It's Lake Pukaki.

When did she last have a holiday in the South Island?

She went down to Queenstown for her partner's birthday in October last year.

What's more south? Arthurs Pass or Lewis Pass?

It's obviously Arthurs Pass but Ardern says Lewis.

What's the Māori name for greenstone? Ardern says pounamu which is absolutely correct.

The South Island has 10 National Parks. Name two.

Ardern struggles but with a bit of help names Abel Tasman.

Has she done any of the big South Island walks?

No.

She says the quiz should have been wider.

"If you asked me about cheese rolls and dagwood sandwiches and Kiwi culture, some of the great musical exports?

OK then. Where are the Chills from?

"From Dunedin weren't they?"

Correct.

We offer to take her on the next Kingswood Election Tour to brush up on her geography. We wish her well for the next six days. The Kingswood Election Tour is nearly done.

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