The New Zealand Labour Party has completed the main part of its organisational review, prompted by the election of David Shearer as leader after the disastrous 2011 election campaign.
A failure to connect with "ordinary voters" saw Labour punished at the ballot boxes and the party has so far done little to regain the faith of voters who switched to the Green or New Zealand First parties in a mild form of protest.
Prime Minister John Key, through his leadership of the National Party, successfully occupied the middle ground last term, which left more than one million New Zealand voters comfortable they were not going to be marginalised in any way by the then new Government.
Interestingly, after months of meetings and consultations, Labour appears to have handed trade unions more control of the party through its so-called enhanced, more democratic and transparent selection processes.
Crucially, the changes will see Mr Shearer feeling secure that he will lead Labour into the 2014 election.
There will be no challenge and there will be a chance for Labour to show voters it is unified. Caucus leadership will be based on an electoral college of 40% membership, 40% caucus and 20% affiliates - trade unions, whose membership of Labour is an intrinsic part of the party but at a far depleted level than in past years of compulsory unionism.
During the run-off between David Shearer and David Cunliffe last year, the straw vote from members was just that: MPs did not have to follow.
Now, if a leadership vote is tied, unions can again wield power.
For example, if last year's vote was taken under the new rules, Mr Cunliffe would now likely be the leader.
Unions, once a powerful money donation machine for Labour, are a weakened presence in the party but still command much attention from the hierarchy.
The danger for Labour is this could be the very factor that alienates the middle ground of voters it needs to win back. After all, many New Zealanders have now moved on from union membership to form their own businesses and run their own lives.
Organisationally, Labour was a cot case before the last election.
It struggled to get numbers out on campaigns - even with union support - and it failed to have a leader's rally until forced into action in the last week of the campaign.
But there could be some hope ahead.
Last week, former Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett was appointed the party's general secretary.
There is no doubt Mr Barnett (who was New Zealand's second openly gay MP, steered through Parliament the Prostitution Law Reform Bill, which became law in 2003, was an outspoken supporter of the Civil Union Bill which became law in 2004, and who retired at the 2008 general election) is a talented political operator.
There will, in some quarters, be the inevitable suspicions that Labour is stacking its organisation with gays, intellectuals and unionists at the expense of people with links to the "average" New Zealander who is battling away bringing up a family in tough economic times. But Mr Barnett brings much-needed organisational ability to the beleaguered party.
Labour's outdated regional councils will be replaced by a new regional organisation.
There will be fewer obligations on Labour bodies to meet formally, freeing energy and time for campaign, political and other organisational activity.
Buddy MPs will be appointed and there will be increased ability for local and community organisations that share Labour's values to affiliate.
Members will welcome the opportunity to have more input into policy formation, something that has been sadly lacking from both Labour and National party conferences in recent years.
And, importantly, list candidate selections will become more open.
Labour has been criticised for pushing MPs well past their use-by date up the list instead of promoting younger talent. Electorate selection procedures have been subject to review and changes will be made next year.
Labour looked tired in the 2008 and 2011 elections.
It is impossible to believe that membership and funding has not been at a low for the party.
However, the latest shake-up may well be the start of its long journey back to the Treasury benches.
