National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins met in their third Leaders’ Debate where issues such as strategic voting, climate change and the cost of living took centre stage.
Both leaders agreed that exploiting the MMP overhang mechanism to gain extra parliamentary seats amounted to cheating, with Luxon accusing the Maori Party of trying to manipulate the system while Hipkins accused “billionaires” of doing the same for the centre-right coalition.
On ‘climate change,’ the leaders were challenged over Treasury warnings that extreme weather could cost the economy $45 billion per decade. Luxon backed a national flood plan and greater resilience, while Hipkins accused National of cutting Labour’s $6 billion resilience fund which included Managed Retreat policies.
Read more at Stuff and RNZ, visit RCR’s Special Focus: Managed Out or watch the full debate on YouTube.
In other election news, NZ First would increase the video gaming development sector rebate scheme from 20-40% to develop the industry on the world stage and grow jobs in New Zealand. Read more at NZ First.
ACT will back trades training as an alternative to university entrance, arguing students should have more choice over their education and career pathways. Read more at RNZ.
Greens candidate Huhana Lyndon is ahead in Te Tai Tokerau at 24%, potentially making history as the Greens first Maori electorate. Read more at NZ Herald.
National’s promise to create a marine reserve off Waiheke has frustrated locals and iwi, who say people should be included in decisions affecting their territories and have concerns about the plan and its implications. Read more at RNZ.
Former Opportunity Party insiders allege toxic culture, bitter power struggles and “shady behaviour” inside the party, with two board resignations. While former candidate Andrew Caie is under investigation after a Christchurch woman alleged he used her name to make ACC claims she never received. Read more at NZ Herald (paywalled) Chris Lynch Media.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins admits his party “made a mistake” funding a Mongrel Mob-run addiction programme with taxpayer money. Listen to RNZ’s Morning Report or read more at NZ Herald and RNZ.
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Can we call Huhana, Huha for short?