Trevor Mallard and Tau Henare in a punch-up outside the parliamentary debating chamber.
Tuku Morgan and his designer underwear.
Winston Peters referring to cartoon character Homer Simpson in speeches. In fact, Winston Peters full stop.
It is easy for first-time voters to feel disillusioned with politics.
Images of swearing, obnoxious and seemingly untrustworthy members of Parliament loom large in the coverage of the country's political proceedings.
This year about 411,000 "young voters", aged between 18 and 24, must try to make some sense of it all before making their way into a polling booth for the November 8 general election.
Of those, about 195,000 have come of voting age since the 2005 election so will be ticking boxes for the first time.
In Dunedin there are about 5600 first-time voters, with about 3800 of them in the Dunedin North electorate and about 1800 in Dunedin South.
Queens High School year 13 pupil and student council leader Philippa Mackay is among them.
She could be called your average first-time voter. Take away the fact that she is a high-achieving sportswoman, having set national age records for pole-vaulting, and you have a normal teenager slightly confused about all the hoo-ha in Wellington.
"Politicians are supposed to be representing our country, but they are saying all these outrageous things.
"They are in their own wee world where all they are trying to do is get ahead of each other," Philippa says.
It is a black-and-white statement, but one that is backed by University of Otago senior lecturer in politics Dr Chris Rudd.
Many first-time voters trying to be informed and make a decision are baffled by the name-calling and strange behaviour of politicians seen on television and in newspapers every day, he says.
Dr Rudd also believes young people, and in particular students, are not given enough credit by politicians for their knowledge of the political system.
Politicians seem to think first-time voters are all about YouTube, broadband and Facebook, but this gives little credit to the fact many first-time voters are interested in policies, particularly in issues that affect their lives, he says.
Philippa admits to being slightly swayed by her parents' political leanings, but aside from that is an independent thinker and knows what she wants from her politicians. Politics, perhaps unsurprisingly, is not a "hot topic" among her friends, but she is still interested in the policy debate about student loans and allowances, and concerning the environment.
Born in July 1990 in Dunedin, Philippa lives with her mother, an administrator, her father, a motorcycle mechanic, and younger sister and brother, in North Taieri.
She is addicted to sport, playing netball in the winter and athletics in the summer, but has also played touch rugby, basketball, canoe polo and likes kayaking and tramping. She was recently crowned the 2008 South Island secondary schools senior girls' pole-vault champion with a vault of 2.60m her best.
She has also been an Otago representative in netball for the past two years.
Philippa has a "we need to get things done" attitude.
She took over leadership of the school council this year after aspiring to that position for many years.
In the role she frequently communicates with Queens High School principal Julie Anderson to try to get small things around the school fixed quickly - something she thinks politicians could take heed of and follow her example.
Her vote this year will be decided after trips to a candidate forum, as well as looking on the Internet and taking in the news.
And by talking to her parents.
"I was talking to Dad about it last night and he reckons that National might have enough votes to go in by themselves. I reckon that could be good 'cause that way they would not need other people. I guess he sort of swayed my decision. But I don't think Labour has done too bad, they have done the best they could."
Despite that, she thinks she may vote for the Greens.
"They are good for the environment. Our generation are so much more aware of the issues because of the amount of publicity," she says.
Personality-wise she likes Helen Clark because she is "a really good speaker who keeps her cool very well".
However, many of her friends were going to vote National, possibly because of the younger age of the party's leadership and the way they communicate with young people.
But on the eve of her first vote, she cannot help but think that politicians in general are untrustworthy.
Is this what is causing apathy among young people in Dunedin?
As of Writ Day, October 8, the final printed electoral roll had 200,000 people missing from it with 89,000 of those aged between 18 and 24 years, Electoral Enrolment Centre manager Murray Wicks said. "One in five young people are leaving it up to their parents, grandparents or mates to decide about their future by failing to enrol to vote for the November 8 general election," he said.
In Dunedin North just days before the close of the printed rolls only 53.55% of those estimated to qualify had enrolled.
Dr Rudd says people tended to blame first-time voters for their apathy but there needed to be some blame apportioned to politicians for their lack of communication.
There had to be some elements of the political debate that appealed to first-time voters and there needed to be a clear choice between parties, which is lacking at this election, he says.
He likens it to going to a supermarket where all the products on the shelves are the same. "What is the difference between National and Labour, young voters will be wondering.
"Is it just different personalities?"
It was a dangerous precedent for first-time voters to not vote, as it meant they were unlikely to vote in subsequent elections or in the future encourage their children to vote.
Philippa says she will be proud of her decision, when she has made it, and proud to be part of the processes of democracy.
"We should be proud of who we vote for and the reasons for it," she says.
Bring on election day.
Name: Mike Bridges (21).
Born: February 6, 1987.
Occupation: Third-year University of Otago student in international business and Chinese.
Future career: Pacific rim businessman.
Are you going to vote? Yes.
Do you follow politics? Yes.
What issues are important for you and why? Student fees are important for me, particularly interest-free loans and the universal allowance. I am not under the threshold at the moment but it would be nice to be able to get one.
International relations: As my job is going to entail working with different countries it is best to be on the good side of major powers. I have been following the free trade agreement with China and the US closely and I would like to see more of the same thing to come. I would also like to see less taxes for the poor and more for the rich.
Who are you going to vote for? Probably Labour.
Why? A lot of very similar views to my own. I would normally think a right-wing party would be the best at handling the economy but I think Labour has done a good job keeping the economy stable and I can see no reason to change that.
Name: Lisa Williamson (19).
Born: June 22, 1989.
Occupation: First-year University of Otago student studying for a bachelor of commerce degree in information science and management.
Future career: Anything with computers and management.
Are you going to vote? Yes.
Do you follow politics? I never really did, but have started to lately.
Sort of figured I should know what I was doing if I was going to vote.
What issues are important for you and why? Tax cuts. I come from a farming background and it is always good to have a bit more money in the back pocket.
Student allowance: I am slightly sceptical about what Labour is promising because they will not tell us how they will fund it until after the election, it is going to come out of everyone's pocket.
Who are you going to vote for? National.
Why? They will do a better job at running the country, seeing as Labour has managed to get us into a massive deficit over the past nine years.
Name: Tom Dysart (18).
Born: July 9, 1990.
Occupation: Year 13 pupil at John McGlashan College in Dunedin.
Future career: Something to do with law. Looking at studying law next year at university.
Are you going to vote? Yes.
Do you follow politics? Very roughly. I watch what is happening every night on the news.
What issues are important for you and why? Student loans and allowances, because of plans to go to university next year. Getting faster broadband. Harsher punitive measures for those convicted of crime.
Who are you going to vote for? No idea at the moment. I will keep following the news and see which party I think is the best come election time.
Name: Michael Atherton (18).
Born: May 28, 1990.
Occupation: Workplace and literacy course at the Salvation Army Employment Plus site.
Future career: Plans to go to bible college next year with correspondence through his church and then hopes for a career in ministry.
Are you going to vote? Yes.
Do you follow politics? Not greatly.
What issues are important for you and why? Christianity and loyalty. I think politicians should do what they say they are going to do. I think honesty would sway my vote, any party that does not use dirty tactics.
Who are you going to vote for? The Maori Party.
Why? I had a wee look at the parties with my tutor and the Maori Party has a good moral system, and they seem to know what is right for the country. It also helps that I am part Maori.
Name: Theresa Carey (18).
Born: November 14, 1989.
Occupation: Taking part in an employment skills and computing course at the Salvation Army Employment Plus site.
Future career: Panel beating, the painting side.
Are you going to vote? Yeah, why not?
Do you follow politics? Not really. Haven't really seen much about them [the candidates].
What issues are important for you and why? I am worried about jobs getting cut and the rising rate of unemployment because of that. I would vote for a party that could stop that. I also like the idea of tax cuts because it gives people a bit more money.
Who are you going to vote for? I have no idea.
