It’s big, it’s blue, and it’s got about 53 seats - not enough for a majority in Parliament, but enough to rattle the chain up and down the country.
It’s called the Back on Track bus and it’s part of National’s 2023 campaign.
More original names such as Betsy (too whimsical?), the Tax Relief Express (too on the nose?) and BOTticelli (too niche?) were floated, but the party stuck to campaign messaging which is fairly understandable.
Many New Zealanders will be familiar with the upholstery, a technicolour abomination that despite all good sense has become the standard for long distance mass transit by road. It’s almost as though it’s designed to induce car sickness, but that could well be because this reporter is head down, typing while in motion on said bus.
Right now, it’s very quiet among the travellers. National leader Christopher Luxon is sat near the front, next to immigration and education spokesperson Erica Stanford. He’s actually right next to the fairly confronting inverted, very large, decal of his own face.
Occasionally the driver toots the horn enthusiastically, evidently in response to other motorists who have perhaps flashed their lights in a friendly way to the unmistakably National Party bus.
Earlier, a sound system pumped out tunes such as Don’t Forget Your Roots by Six60, Wandering Eye by Fat Freddy’s Drop and of course the campaign song Day is Going To Come by Royal Deluxe.
Like on most Air New Zealand planes when Christopher Luxon was the company’s chief executive, wifi does not exist on board but you are welcome to use bluetooth. Reporters, which on this leg from Rotorua to Morrinsville include representatives from TVNZ (hello), Newshub, RNZ, Newstalk ZB, the Herald and Stuff, sit at the back of the bus, struggle for mobile internet as the bus passes through more remote stretches. 5G is heaven. 4G is passable. 3G is hellish.
Ahead of the reporters, mostly decked out in bold National Party blues, are party volunteers and Young Nats. The front includes Luxon, of course, Stanford, and National Party staffers including National's chief press secretary Hamish Rutherford.
And of course the driver, without whom the bus would be on no track let alone back on one.
There's no toilet on board, but the next stop is not excessively far from Rotorua - everyone should be able to hold on. The bus is boarded up about five fairly steep steps and leg room is limited so those with some disabilities or who use mobility devices might find it challenging.
On board are various National Party branded backdrops, signs and hoardings, ready for press secretaries, staffers and volunteers to faithfully roll out when needed.
Luxon handed out an assortment of lollies at the beginning of this leg of the journey, inexplicably wearing an apron for the task. He joked, when queried on this point, that he puts it on for any food-related activity.
While doing so, Luxon revealed he had met Taylor Swift, saying she was "cool" and had admired his daughter's striking red hair.
It follows Luxon's retort to Hipkins at last nights TVNZ final Leaders' Debate where he suggested Hipkins take Swift's "advice" and calm down - the title of one of her songs.
The music has begun again.
It's Taylor Swift's "Style".
Luxon will be hoping he isn't going out of style with voters as we enter the final 24 hours of the campaign.
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