The funny thing is the Greens gained 11 percent of the vote presumably without being hard-edged, and Shearer debuted at 10 percent in the preferred Prime Minister stakes, presumably aspirational-less.

If it were any other organisation preferring such advice, it might attract the criticism of being a vested interest. Why not the political media, you might wonder, particularly when politics is one of the most cost-effective sources of media content.

The reality is Labour's Shearer is showing a "new way”. By resisting the urge to rush headlong into every fleeting issue, he is demonstrating he is prepared to listen and take a considered approach. He wants to be a spokesperson, not an answer-person. I agree with veteran journalist Richard Long (ex-Dominion Post editor) that he need not give a toss about the day-to-day point scoring in the House. There is, after all, plenty of time until the next election.

And as for the Greens, their success may well lay in not me-tooing the hard edged stuff that has characterised traditional politics and parties. It is enough that they have traded their ill-fitting morris dancing gear for business attire.

For Shearer and the Greens, keeping their own counsel may be the best course of action. What do you think?