A question about whether Labour's numbers team will keep the books balanced

The party held its annual retreat in the Wairarapa yesterday -- where Leader Chris Hipkins signalled it will be some time before any major policy is revealed.

Political Editor Jason Walls says the question that remains is whether the new finance duo of Barbara Edmonds and Deborah Russell can fill the gap left by Grant Robertson.

Questions have been raised about their claims about the cost of reinstating interest deductions for residential property owners, and for claiming 346 landlords owned more than 200 properties.

He says they've made some debatable calls in the last week that's left them looking a bit red-faced -- so they're not off to a good start.