After losing post election ballot, make visionary speeches to party activists on issues outside portfolio areas.
Make sure you invite columnists and bloggers to the speeches
Have party supporters push for future leadership votes to include party members, where you have majority support
Have bloggers and columnists call call for a change of leadership just before the conference
Have party activists vote down hierarchy’s rule changes and get threshold for leadership challenge lowered to 40%
Get party activists to pass a specific resolution to schedule a caucus vote early next year needing only a 40% threshold to challenge.
Refuse to pledge loyalty to Leader after vote
When Leader looks to do a special vote immediately, pledge support and loyalty for now
Have angry old guard insist you be sacked or demoted, so that you are made a martyr
Wait for polls to drop for party, due to infighting, so that 40% of caucus will vote for a leadership ballot in February
If you don’t quite get the numbers in February, then have very angry and noisy party activists get to work on yet to be agreed new selection and list ranking rules.
Get new selection rules in place, weakening power of NZ hierarchy in selections
Have your supporters win selections in winnable seats and gain high list rankings
Then at first caucus meeting after the next election, you have at least 40% to challenge for leadership and force a ballot – which you win
