After a busy weekend of more media cross-fire over strategic voting and media allegations, political parties made their final pitches to the public.
Labour: MP Barbara Edmonds outlined a first-week plan to begin work on free GP visits, public transport fare caps, a capital gains tax and supermarket reform. Leader Chris Hipkins confirmed Edmonds’ appointment as finance minister was non-negotiable and said he was open to electoral changes to prevent future overhangs. Former Leader Phil Goff urged voters in Mount Albert to back candidate Helen White to prevent a National win. – 1News.
National: Leader ChristopherLuxon continued opposing the overhang strategy, claiming that vote-splitting could help Labour form a government. Former Leader John Key endorsed MP Paul Goldsmith in Epsom, urging voters to support him over ACT Leader David Seymour because ACT no longer needed the electorate to remain in Parliament. – 1News.
NZ First: Leader Winston Peters backed split voting and promised another inquiry into the Covid vaccine rollout. As Rail Minister, he announced a $3.4 million government loan supporting a Christchurch commuter rail trial and regular South Island passenger services, with the trial subject to council funding. Peters also claimed an unnamed foreign country remained interested in developing Kaikohe’s airport, subject to improved law and order. He suggested prisoners could reduce their sentences through forestry and environmental work, while criticising youth bootcamps as too expensive. – NZ Herald.
ACT: Leader David Seymour renewed the party’s “one law for all” campaign, including winding up the Waitangi Tribunal, protecting lawful opinions from regulators and adding property rights to the Bill of Rights Act. ACT also proposed abolishing the Broadcasting Standards Authority and reducing government to 18 ministers and 19 departments. – ACT via Scoop, 1News.
Greens: Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick challenged the proposed fast-tracking of an AI data centre in Auckland, warning about electricity demand, water use and noise. The party also released a “Dirty Dozen” list of government environmental measures it opposed, committed to end mining on public conservation land and restore waterways and wetlands. It signed youth homelessness commitments and pledged to repeal move-on orders. – Greens, RNZ.
Maori: Signed commitments to tackle youth homelessness, including a national strategy, sustained funding and stronger housing obligations. MP Oriini Kaipara opposed move-on orders, arguing they risked pushing homeless people into the justice system. – RNZ.
Opportunity: Leader Qiulae Wong pitched the party as an environmental voice willing to work across the political spectrum. The party also signed youth homelessness commitments and supported repealing move-on orders, arguing there was no evidence they worked. – RNZ.
Advance voting: By Friday, 593,953 people had voted, compared with 449,706 at the equivalent stage in 2023. – Electoral Commission.
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