Labour is on the rack, with its worst poll result since 1922.
Fewer than a quarter of those who voted gave their party vote to the party. Instead of increasing its share each election as might traditionally be expected as National's time in office extends, results have gone the other way.
Plenty of advice is being given on what ails Labour and what might revive the patient.
There are, however, no quick or clear cures. Such is the party's predicament, her agonies could accentuate before they improve.
Labour's caucus as it meets today will be living a nightmare. The rump of 32 has next to no new blood outside the Maori seats, being dominated by yesterday's men and women from the Helen Clark era.
Its leader for the past year, David Cunliffe, while staking a claim to battle on, has presided over failure and lacks the support of many MPs.
One possible replacement, Grant Robertson, only managed to muster third place in the party vote in his Wellington Central electorate. None of its touted potential leaders looks remotely likely to be able to match Prime Minister John Key's allure.
Even though some of Labour's economic policies are superior to National's, the electorate just did not trust it to deliver, especially with the Greens on board.
The economy has been doing relatively well, at least in Auckland and Christchurch, and it seems voters would rather not risk the unknown in what remain choppy waters.
Fundamentally, Labour has to ask what it stands for. Many argue that, like the unions to which it is harnessed, it looks back rather than forward in this, the competitive 21st century.
Although there is a partial appeal in that tie-up, Labour lost older social conservatives to New Zealand First, with many young and middle-aged liberals having previously migrated to the Greens. All the while, Labour has alienated middle New Zealand.
The soul-searching is likely to be painful and divisive. Those who belong to parties, notably in these days of niche rather than mass membership, often ardently believe in causes and are less likely to compromise.
The fervour of their views pushes well wide of the ''centre''. Throw in personalities, ambitions and high stakes and the road ahead looks rough and rocky.
New Zealanders do not like to be told what to think, especially by outsiders. Hence the Internet Mana debacle.
Large numbers also, and despite vocal, articulate and concerned environmentalists, want development and jobs. And they do believe in fairness and a fair go.
Labour - even the name seems old-fashioned - can position itself clearly and emphatically in these spaces, even if it means leaving the stronger environment messages, the more left-wing positioning and zealous social liberal identification to the Greens.
If studied carefully, results in Dunedin, notably Dunedin North, were not all bad for Labour. Despite disadvantageous boundary changes, the combined Labour and Greens party vote difference over National remained more than 6700, down only 700 on the previous election.
It might well be the perceived neglect of Dunedin in favour of Christchurch and Auckland, with a particular focus on Invermay, swayed enough voters to limit damage.
National is actually ahead in the party vote everywhere, apart from the seven Maori seats, three electorates in South Auckland, one in West Auckland and Dunedin North.
Labour supporters, rather than be too despondent, should recognise - whatever the screams about proposed changes to the Resource Management Act and the Employment Relations Act - that to secure power John Key largely aims for the centre.
Policies that National has retained and implemented indicate it is a very long way from the days of Ruth Richardson's benefit cuts and the Employment Contracts Act.
Labour, as well, should know National will face fresh economic challenges with the fall of commodity prices and when the Christchurch rebuild inevitably slows.
Opportunities could well arise if National disappoints middle New Zealand and this country's economic position deteriorates. Labour needs to be in a position to take advantage should that occur.
