Labour's problems 'deeper than leader'

Former Labour Party president and Alliance leader Jim Anderton says Labour's problems go deeper than its leader.

Jim Anderton told Morning Report it was the entire Labour Party that did not appeal to the New Zealand public and not just leader David Cunliffe.

He said the party needs to look at why its party vote was so low and that there should be a review of their performance in the election.

"Unless and until the Labour Party have a look and a restructuring of how they're operating they can't attract a majority of support and they need to do it," Mr Anderton said.

"Usually when you have such a bad result as they had in 2011 you come back from it, but Labour has got worse."

Mr Cunliffe is taking a break at home following Labour's worst election result in 92 years and a marathon caucus meeting earlier this week.

Mr Cunliffe said he was continuing to take soundings from his associates.

The party's executive meets at the weekend to decide on the scope of an independent review of the election loss.

Radio New Zealand understands there is manoeuvring behind the scenes to get a clean change of leadership.