Election 2023: Chris Hipkins out of isolation, trust tested between Winston Peters, David Seymour during debate
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has claimed National admitted their tax plan didn’t stack up and says a National, Act and NZ First coalition would be “disastrous for the climate”.
Hipkins, who got out of Covid isolation earlier today, said: “National’s [tax] calculator being dodgy is part of their wider campaign.
“A lot of New Zealand families were under the impression they’d get hundreds of dollars a fortnight. Now they’re seeing it as the scam that it is.”
Hipkins also said the “real question” was what National planned to do about climate change.
“A National, Act, New Zealand First government would be disastrous for the climate,” he said.
Meanwhile, a new Taxpayers Union Curia poll has National increasing 0.9 points on last month to 35.9% while Labour are also up, gaining 1.4 points to take them to 27.9%. ACT have dropped by 5.2 points to 9.1% while the Greens are down 2.1 points to 10.6%.
The smaller parties are NZ First on 6.9% (+3 points), the Māori Party on 3.7% (+0.8 points), TOP on 2.9% (+0.2 points), New Conservatives on 0.7% (-0.1 points), Vision NZ on 0.3% (-0.2 points), and DemocracyNZ on 0.3% (+0.3 points).
Live blog below
On the Campaign: The minor parties make their case
Royce
The latest minor parties debate saw another clash between Winston Peters and David Seymour, sparking more concerns about how they could work together in Government together.
So is there a chance for National in TOP's push to take the electorate of Ilam? On today's episode of On the Campaign, we hear about the party's strong campaign in Ilam and if they can take the seat, and if National would even want to work with them.
Natasha Gordon
Photo / Alyssa Smith
Whanganui's National candidate Carl Bates introduced National leader Christopher Luxon to three young fans in Stratford today during the National leader's visit. Olli (10), Lucy (7) and Milla (13) Dent were there with their grandad Dave Dent.
Asked what they wanted to say to the National Party leader, Olli said he wanted to tell him to "keep being positive," while Milla added - "and win the election".
Christopher Luxon apologises for tax policy inaccuracies - immediately repeats error
Natasha Gordon
National leader Christopher Luxon has apologised for not always being accurate in saying who gets what in National’s tax package, but then immediately repeated his error.
The party has been under fire for selling the tax package as delivering “up to $250 a fortnight” for a family with kids on the average income, but sometimes omitting the words “up to”.
Read more here:
Natasha Gordon
South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon and Stratford District mayor Neil Volzke both spoke with Christopher Luxon when he stopped in Stratford.
Photo / Alyssa Smith
Hipkins enjoying a pilsner at Boneface Brewing Co.
Natasha Gordon
Georgi Georgiev is getting married on Monday and is on his stag do. He built up the courage to introduce himself to the Labour leader, who ended up buying him a a beer.
The most exciting two-party race of this election isn’t between Labour and National
Natasha Gordon
The affluent Auckland electorate of Tāmaki is the backdrop for a hard-fought battle between two candidates from the same side of the political spectrum.
Read more here:
Hipkins has shown a need for speed racing to victory
Natasha Gordon
Photo / Mark Mitchell
Hipkins has shown a need for speed racing to victory at the Daytona Adventure Park go cart track.
The Labour leader took out the tight contest - which included colleagues Ginny Andersen, Ayesha Verrall and Barbara Edmonds. He looked determined on the track, overtaking at will, all with a wide grin on his face.
He is finishing his day of campaigning in Brewtown in Upper Hutt.
Seymour on other topics
Natasha Gordon
Seymour reiterated his belief Winston Peters couldn't be trusted.
He said it was clear Māori were "by far the biggest victims of crime", and Act had pulled a social media post saying tough-on-crime policies would benefit Māori because it was being misinterpreted.
Regarding any potential coalitions, Seymour said "two seats seems to be a pretty good number for flying a plane and I would think it would be a pretty good number for fixing an economy," referencing his preference to only work with National.
On cyclone recovery, Seymour said Act's policy was for the government to "not keep being the insurer of last resort".
"It's very clear the government being everyone's backup insurer is not actually a good outcome.
"Every litre of fuel on this plane has paid its ETS fees.
"Our carbon emissions of this flight has been fully accounted for."
Natasha Gordon
After continuing his parody, Seymour announced Act would give chief executives of government departments key performance index (KPI) targets.
"You get paid more for meeting the targets set by the democratically elected minister. For example, in immigration, there would be targets for visa processing times and the chief executive of Immigration [NZ] would be remunerated based on hitting those targets."
He said there would also be KPIs set for wait times in the healthcare system and targets for educational achievements.
Regarding the aeroplane he was using, Pinky, Seymour said, "we've done some pricing on the cost of using it, and we're very comfortable that we're well within ur limits for any [electoral donation] limits for any declarations that we have to make".
"People that have complained about this, they might find while flying is not a cheap hobby, it's not that expensive either."
Seymour hosts press conference in the style of an inflight safety announcement
Natasha Gordon
Photo / George Heard
Act leader David Seymour has hosted a press conference in the style of an inflight safety announcement.
After landing in a light aircraft at Rangiora Airfield in Canterbury, Seymour made references to some of Act's key policies.
"[Place your] carry-on luggage in the overhead locker and smaller items on the seat seat in front of you. In case of excess carry-on from other political parties, please remember we have fresh thinking and practical solutions to the real problems facing our country.
"Whenever the seat belt light is on, ensure your seatbelt is fastened securely like your money will be under Act's alternative budget.
"Your flight attendants are now pointing to the emergency exits. Please count the number of rows to the nearest exit. If you went to school under Labour's educational experiments, please just follow someone who does indeed know how to count.
"Here at 'Freedom Air', we believe that nobody should be treated differently based on their ancestry. So if we have to evacuate the aircraft in an emergency, nobody will be jumping off in order of background.
"If you're drowning in costs, you'll find a life jacket under your seat. Please only inflate it as you exit the aircraft.
"If it's a bit flat and you would like more inflation simply re-elect a Labour government and their government waste and expenditure will ensure inflation for many more years to come.
"Please keep the aisles clear of unnecessary red tape and regulation. If you get tangled, push the party vote Act button to cut red tape so you can get on with your business.
"If we experience unexpected turbulence from irrelevant minor parties, hold on tight and remember to party vote Act to stabilize the flight path towards real change.
Power Play: Is New Zealand heading for a post-election ‘limboland’?
Natasha Gordon
As the shared dream of governing together - just the two of them - becomes ever more distant, the panic is setting in as National and Act contemplate the prospect of also having to work with New Zealand First.
Read more here:
Election 2023: Audrey Young - Luxon’s tax pitch comes back to haunt him
Natasha Gordon
Welcome to the Politics Briefing. It has been a bumpy week for National with its campaign centrepiece, its tax package, suffering its third big knock.
Finance spokeswoman Nicola Willis confirmed calculations by the Council of Trade Unions that less than 0.2 per cent of 1.63 million households, or just 3000, will qualify for the full $252 a fortnight, not the “average family”.
Talk about inflationary.
Read more here:
Bailey Brannon
Hipkins said the "real question" was what National planned to do about climate change.
"A National, Act, New Zealand First government would be disastrous for the climate."
Hipkins answered several questions on fast-tracking consents in the energy sector.
Robertson said "this work is already happening. The actual project's happening. That's the point".
Hipkins said it was great UK PM Rishi Sunak had copied his anti-smoking policies.
"If you look at which party has been more positive and which is negative, it's pretty clear. While the National Party accuse everyone else of being negative they have to go find themselves a nice big full length mirror."
Hipkins: 'kind of irrelevant' Peters ruling out labour
Bailey Brannon
Regarding Winston Peters ruling out Labour, Hipkins said it was "kind of irrelevant".
"It's kind of immaterial. I won't be working with Winston Peters. Been there, done that. I got the T-Shirt. Won't be doing it again."
"The debates we've been focused on are the prime ministerial ones.
"I don't see there'd be any value in [debating Winston Peters].
"Ultimately Christopher Luxon and I are the ones competing.
Ayesha Verrall said the comments made by Pharmac's chief executive were unacceptable.
"I've made my views to the board very clear that they're inappropriate.
"The board needs to provide assurances that those sorts of comments will not be made again.
"Those employment matters are matters for the board.
Hipkins spoke on the assault in New Windsor, Auckland, saying "there is always support for communities in a situation like this".
"What I don't want to do is turn it into an election campaign photo opportunity.
"I would be happy to visit privately.
Regarding flood and cyclone affected Kiwis, Hipkins said "it's one of the reasons now is not the time to dial back measures on climate change.
Finance spokesman Grant Robertson said this was the point of the climate change mitigation fund.
"We do have a funding pool for that."
Robertson said keeping superannuation at 65 was "of course" affordable.
Hipkins claims National admitted their tax plan doesn't add up
Bailey Brannon
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has claimed National admitted their tax plan didn't stack up.
"I think New Zealanders deserve better from the National Party," he said.
"If National wins, New Zealanders will lose.
"The Labour Party has put forward a positive plan for the future.
"Our economy has turned the corner. We've got one of the highest growth rates in the OECD. That will flow through to households if we stay on course.
"While it's natural to think about change at a difficult period, New Zealanders have to be careful about change to what.
"The National Party's whole campaign is based on slogans and soundbites without substance.
"National's [tax] calculator being dodgy is part of their wider campaign.
"A lot of New Zealand families were under the impression they'd get hundreds of dollars a fortnight. Now they're seeing it as the scam that it is."
Hipkins said he hadn't spoken with Te Pāti Māori on post-election coalitions.
"It's been more along the lines of informal conversations.
"I've said we would talk to them after the election, and we'd talk to the Green Party after the election.
"There are enough swing voters out there to change the outcome of the election.
"We know opinion and sentiment can shift dramatically in the last days of a campaign.
"A lot can happen in the short space of time of the final days of an election campaign.
"We've seen quite a lot of momentum, even though I was isolating.
"I've always got a second wind in me.
"I'm looking forward to spending more time on the campaign trail."
Hipkins said "there will be familiar faces" appearing to support Labour in the next eight days.
"We're seeing early voting is well below where it was in 2020. That reflects New Zealanders are holding back.
"It shows the last eight days are going to be critical.
"I think voters looking at the National Party's tax scam, and seeing they're not going to benefit from it, they'll be thinking whether a change of government is right at the moment."
New Taxpayers Union Curia poll results
Bailey Brannon
National increases 0.9 points on last month to 35.9% while Labour are also up, gaining 1.4 points to take them to 27.9%. ACT have dropped by 5.2 points to 9.1% while the Greens are down 2.1 points to 10.6%.
The smaller parties are NZ First on 6.9% (+3 points), the Māori Party on 3.7% (+0.8 points), TOP on 2.9% (+0.2 points), New Conservatives on 0.7% (-0.1 points), Vision NZ on 0.3% (-0.2 points), and DemocracyNZ on 0.3% (+0.3 points).
National are up one seat on last month to 46 while Labour remain on 35.
ACT have dropped 7 seats to 12 while the Greens have dropped 4 to 13.
NZ First will re-enter Parliament on these figures, gaining 9 seats from last month for a total of 9 while the Māori Party are up one to 5 seats.
The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right of 58 is down 6 seats on last month, while the Centre-Left bloc’s total is down 3 to 53.
Neither bloc would be able to form a government alone, but both could do so in coalition with NZ First.
Both Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins have risen in this month’s preferred Prime Minister polls.
Luxon has risen by 4 points to 29%, while Hipkins has gained 2 points to 27%.
David Seymour has dropped 4 points to 4% while 4.5% of people would still prefer Jacinda Ardern (down 2.5%).
Chloë Swarbrick is up 1.4 points to 6.1%, Winston Peters is down 0.2 points to 4.3%, Nicola Willis remains unchanged at 2.5%, James Shaw has dropped 0.9 points to 1.2%, and Matt King has dropped 0.6 points to 0.7%. Marama Davidson has gained 0.9 points to 1.2% while Chris Bishop has dropped 0.2 points to 0.1%
Bailey Brannon
Natasha Gordon
Natasha Gordon
As Luxon boarded National’s bus, dubbed Fiscal Prudence, a car drove past with a passenger yelling “go National!”
Luxon fails a Matchbox 20 quiz
Natasha Gordon
He claimed afterward that he was in fact a big fan of Matchbox 20, who is touring New Zealand this summer.
Chloe Swarbrick of the Greens voting at Auckland University
Natasha Gordon
Luxon walks through central New Plymouth
Natasha Gordon
Luxon has started a walk through central New Plymouth and received a friendly toot and wave from Labour MPs Andrew Little and Glen Bennett driving past in a car.
Luxon tried his hand at a soft serve.
He chose vanilla and coconut with blueberries and chocolate.
Luxon describes his invention as a “cacophony of colour”.
One car drove past with the driver yelling “go Labour go Labour”.
Another on foot said “I voted for Labour” and “Don’t get me on camera” as Luxon and the media walked by.
In a clothing store, he was told business was a bit “flat” at the moment and that tended to happen around election time for some reason.
He was told customers might be more cautious about their purchases given the cost of living pressures.
Rebecca Johnson, marketing manager for Centre City, said she is voting for National because she agreed with their policies to address the cost of living and welfare dependency.
'It's not over until it's over': Positive mood among Labour supporters
Natasha Gordon
Volunteer Sue Ryall said there was a positive mood among supporters and felt the polls could be turned around for Labour.
"It's not over until it's over, we just need to get our people out to vote."
She said it was gutting" Hipkins was taken out by Covid but felt the rest of the team had stepped up.
Edmonds said there was a really positive atmosphere in Mana for Labour. Her team doorknocked 500 homes yesterday in four hours, and all were supportive, she said.
'Great to be back': Hipkins arrives at Wellington rally
Natasha Gordon
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has arrived to a roadside human hoarding rally in Wellington to the raucous cheers of about 50 supporters.
"Feels great to be back, I like the fresh air. Nothing like the Wellington wind after being stuck inside."
Hipkins has picked up a hoarding and joined in the action as heavy Friday morning traffic rolls by. There appears a mostly positive reception so far, judging by the tone of the horns.
The petty faithful are clearly energised by his presence, with lots of cheers and laughter. Hipkins himself is beaming, evidently very pleased to be out of Covid isolation.
The rally is taking place in the typically safe Labour seat of Rongotai, formerly held by Paul Eagle and where new candidate Fleur Fitzsimons is running.
Her biggest challenge is expected to be from Green candidate Julie-Anne Genter, who is running a two tick campaign.
Hipkins has been joined by Fitzsimons and other regional candidates including Barbara Edmonds of Mana,Soraya Peke-Mason running in Te Tai Hauāuru and list candidate Ayesha Verrall.
National is claiming another Labour MP is deviating from the party's position on tax
Natasha Gordon
National is claiming another Labour MP is deviating from the party's position on tax while the MP claims her comments have been misinterpreted and National is "muckraking".
The Herald has seen a video of current Nelson MP and Labour's candidate for Nelson Rachel Boyack speaking alongside other local candidates.
During that meeting, Boyack said, "there are things we would like to be able to do like have a capital gains tax [but] we don’t have the public support for that, and we have to be pretty frank about that at this time".
National's campaign chair Chris Bishop claimed it added to division within Labour on tax. Party leader Chris Hipkins had ruled out a capital gains tax and a wealth tax under his leadership.
Labour MP and Wellington Central candidate Ibrahim Omer recently told a candidate’s debate on Sunday that Labour “had not given up” on the idea of a wealth tax.
RNZ reported this week Tairei MP and candidate Ingrid Leary said she backed the Hipkins' "captain's call" but that she would like to "leave a transparent and fairer tax system" as a legacy - including a capital gains tax.
Boyack told the Herald today her comment had been misinterpreted, explaining she had been referring to Labour's past support of a capital gains tax.
Multiple polls have indicated the majority of the population support taxing the capital gains made on rental properties.
However, Boyack argued that didn't translate into political support at election time.
Given her comments were weeks old, Boyack claimed National was just trying to distract from its tax policy which "didn't add up" and was "all smoke and mirrors".
Labour's possible coalition partners, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori, both supported further taxes with the former considering a wealth tax a bottom line in any post-election negotiations.
'Feeling dangerous': Race relations commissioner on allegations of race baiting in election
Natasha Gordon
Acting Race Relations commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo is calling for respect and dignity to be maintained when political tensions are high, saying she is concerned there have been racist and classist undertones.
She told Checkpoint that rhetoric of an unpleasant nature had been escalating and some of it was racist. It was also concerning that there seemed to be more verbal attacks on women candidates.
The reports have increased over the past six months and “it’s feeling dangerous”, she said.
Read more here:
National wants offshore wind to compete on the same commercial basis as other electricity generation
Natasha Gordon
“New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone covers four million square kilometres of ocean,” Luxon said.
“Less than one per cent of that could generate 600 per cent of this country’s electricity needs from renewable energy.
“Investment in offshore wind has taken off in other countries, but not in New Zealand.”
He said National would build on the work already done on permits and seek to align the New Zealand system with Australia.
National wants offshore wind to compete on the same commercial basis as other electricity generation.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is developing a permits system for offshore wind.
MBIE proposes permits and resource consents will be required to build and operate offshore wind farms.
MBIE proposes a two-stage permits process:
- Feasibility permits grant exclusive rights over a certain area for seven years to test an area’s suitability for offshore wind; and
- Commercial permits allow an offshore wind farm to be built. Commercial permits are issued after feasibility studies are complete and only to the holder of the feasibility permit for an area.
MBIE proposes extensive criteria for permits, including energy system impacts, economic development potential, health and safety credentials, and the national interest.
National would use a contestable process to issue feasibility permits with a goal to have feasibility studies underway as soon as possible.
The National Party wants to support offshore wind farms
Natasha Gordon
The National Party wants to support offshore wind farms, party leader Christopher Luxon announced in New Plymouth today. If elected, National would:
- Fast track permits for offshore wind so feasibility studies can get underway.
- Complete the development of offshore wind regulations within one year to unleash investment.
- Require decisions on resource consents for offshore wind generation within two years of an application.
- Require consents for new transmission lines to be issued within one year and eliminate consents for upgrades to existing transmission lines, within limits.
- Work with Crown Research Institutes to publish weather and geology data to accelerate investment in offshore wind
Friendly crowd for Luxon at New Plymouth retirement home
Vita
Luxon had a National-friendly crowd at the Jean Sandel retirement village in New Plymouth, and he joked that it was hard competing with the All Blacks game.
He spoke about common themes for his campaign, including the potential of New Zealand and the need to improve the economy, lock more people up for longer, and improve health and education.
He then mingled with the crowd and discussed farming regulations and his wish to ban gang patches in public spaces.
He was also asked about the Defence Force’s 757 planes and when they’ll be replaced, to which he said he wasn’t sure.
Luxon has criticised the planes, which have a reputation for breaking down, and said he may fly commercially when heading overseas if he was PM.
Resident Janet Darrah had already voted for National, and told the Herald the amount of farming regulation was “ridiculous”.
Asked how cutting regulation would impact the environment, she said many farmers were planting and not getting credit for their work.“Farmers are still the backbone of the country whether the townies like it or not.”
She said NZ First leader Winston Peters was “very intelligent but he’s lost his way”.
On Luxon’s ability to juggle Act and NZ First in a government arrangement, she said: “I don’t know. With Winston stirring things up, he’s an unknown quantity.”
Luxon to speak at retirement village
Vita
Luxon has arrived at Jean Sandel Retirement Village in New Plymouth where his speech time will compete with the end of the All Blacks game against Uruguay.
Vita
National Party leader Christopher Luxon chatting with Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngawera Packer and National New Plymouth candidate David MacLeod at the New Plymouth airport this morning.
Early voting numbers languishing
Vita
Advance votes for this year’s general election are lagging behind the same time at the last general election.
Hipkins out of isolation, feeling well
Vita
Labour leader Chris Hipkins, speaking as he concludes his Covid isolation at his Auckland hotel, said he was heading out on the campaign trail again.
He said he was looking forward to it.
"I'm feeling really good," Hipkins said, saying yesterday he felt well.
"I'm always chipper, even when I'm not," Hipkins joked.
"But I'm very much looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail."
Hipkins said he decided to get a decent rest this morning before getting back into election campaigning.
He revealed he has tried almost every item on the hotel's menu while in isolation.
He acknowledged there was a “certain irony” in how Covid disrupted the last few years and had also interrupted the last few weeks of his campaign.
Hipkins guaranteed he had the energy to turn Labour's fortunes around and campaign hard.
He said he'll spend one night at home tonight, which will be his last night before the election.
Hipkins said he believes there's a lot of undecided votes still in the electorate, which could be enough to change the election result.
When looking at the last election he said there was a "nearly 10 point difference between what the polls were predicting a couple of days out and what actually happened on Election Day".
"The last few days of an Election campaign really matters," he said.
He didn’t have any reflections on TVNZ’s multi-party debate last night, saying he had chosen to get a decent sleep instead of watching.
John Key says he approached National - not the other way round
Vita
Sir John Key says he approached the National Party to see if he could help with its election campaign, rather than National approaching him.
The former Prime Minister put out a campaign video on Thursday morning urging the party's supporters to get out and vote.
He told TVNZ’s Breakfast this morning he expected 3-400,000 people would vote over the weekend so he wanted to mobilise National’s base, warning there was a big risk of complacency if the election was seen as a sure thing.
On last night's minor party leaders debate Key said the interactions between Act’s David Seymour and NZ First’s Winston Peters were “actually a little better than I might have thought”.
Asked about Seymour’s previous claims that Peters was impossible to work with in a coalition, Key said it was important to remember that whoever won the biggest result had the moral mandate to try and form a government.
“But let’s say you can’t form a government or you don’t want to form a Government, then your next option is a minority Government. And then your third option is another election.
“So I know everybody says Chris Luxon should rule out Winston Peters; well OK, fair enough. But if he has 58 seats on election night do you think New Zealanders want another election? Do you think they want a minority Government? They’ll want everyone to play nice,” he said.
“They can make it work, they have to.”
However Key would prefer to see the strongest National Party vote possible.
Eight days until election
Vita
Welcome to today's live coverage of the campaign. There are just 8 days to go until the election, and the NZ Herald is bringing you all the updates you need to know, as they happen.
Story continues after live blog
Last night, potential governing partners Winston Peters and David Seymour clashed over whether they trust each other, highlighting possible tensions in any governing arrangement between them and the National Party.
The leaders of NZ First and Act featured prominently in the TVNZ minor parties’ debate, which comprised Peters, Seymour, Green Party co-leader James Shaw and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi.
It followed a poll by Talbot Mills Research that had National on 38 per cent, Labour on 27 per cent, the Greens on 13 per cent and NZ First on 6.4 per cent and in the kingmaker position - the second poll showing NZ First in this position in two days.
On the potential governing arrangement between National, Act and NZ First, the issue of trust led to a fiery exchange.
Seymour said he didn’t trust Peters because he didn’t know where he stood on any issue, pointing out Peters’ support for the Zero Carbon Act despite its impact on farmers, his apparent statements for and against vaccine mandates, and for opposing co-governance dispute being in the Cabinet committee that signed off on commissioning what would become He Puapua.
Peters dismissed Seymour’s comments, and started to say how Minister Willie Jackson kept the He Puapua report from him, but Seymour retorted “you never asked”.
“It’s not my job to trust David Seymour,” Peters said when asked the same question on trust.
“You’ve got to establish trust, and this is not a very good start now.”
Seymour: “Unfortunately I’m just telling the truth.”
Peters: “Grow up.”
Shaw then gestured to them both and said: “If you’re voting for the National Party, this is what you’re voting for.”
None of the four leaders raised their hands when asked who thought National’s tax policy was credible. The same resulted from a question about the credibility of Labour’s GST-free fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.
It was a rare moment of unanimity which had evaporated by the end, when Waititi and Peters squabbled over race.
Asked how each leader was lowering the temperature given the alleged threats and intimidation during the campaign, Peters opted for calling out co-governance.
”We’re not putting up with this separatism, we’re not putting up with this racism,” he said, adding that Waititi had endorsed comments about Māori having superior genes.
Waititi replied there was nothing wrong with being proud of one’s whakapapa, and Peters’ use of inflammatory words including “separatism” and “racism” was triggering and emboldening dangerous behaviour.
“These are the words coming out from these jokers,” he said, referring to Peters and Seymour.
Peters had used the same words - “a racist separatist approach” - when talking about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which prompted Waititi to say: “He’s been race-baiting our people.”
It follows a dispute between police and Te Pāti Māori, which had claimed there were four recent attacks, including a home invasion, on its candidate and number four on the party list Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
The party claimed the attacks were politically- and racially-motivated, and called out right-leaning parties for emboldening such behaviour. National and Act rejected this, while Peters said there had been no home invasion and it was a publicity stunt.
Last night police said there was no home invasion, nor any criminality established, “although inquiries are ongoing”, but Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere doubled down, saying the police investigation was a “whitewash”.
Asked during the debate about how to reduce inequitable outcomes for Māori, Shaw and Waititi said it wasn’t divisive to allow Māori a seat at the decision-making table to help reduce inequitable outcomes.
Waititi added that a referendum on co-governance, which Seymour wants, would leave the fate of a minority to the “tyranny of the majority”.
Seymour said the constitutional arrangements of the country had been decided “largely” decided behind closed doors by the judiciary and academics. “What we need instead is a clear statement by Parliament.”
He talked about the “same rights and duties” in article three, prompting Waititi to ask him about article two, which is about self-determination.
Waititi said Seymour was in a “fairytale” and trampling over Te Tiriti rights. Shaw agreed, saying Seymour was appropriating the language about democracy and unity to push what was essentially an assimilation policy where the majoirty overrode the rights of a minority.
There were further fiery moments on climate change, when Peters questioned how much of a role New Zealand should play given the size of the country relative to the rest of the world.
Shaw said the rationale was wrong, and it amounted to saying New Zealand shouldn’t have participated in World War II because New Zealand couldn’t defeat the Nazis.
Seymour interjected, prompting Shaw to say he couldn’t remember asking Seymour for his opinion, triggering a tense talk-off before host Jack Tame stepped in.
Later Seymour said Shaw should be called “offshore” because of the time he spent overseas talking about climate change. Shaw replied that he accepted Seymour would say some stupid things but he was “abusing the privilege”.
Seymour: “You can have all the wisecracks you like, James, but you have failed on climate change.”
On crime, both Shaw and Waititi said poverty was the main driver, while Seymour said the Government had been “kind to criminals hoping they’ll be kind back”.
Peters said “criminal intent” was the main driver, adding he grew up with others in poverty who never committed crimes because they had a sense of citizenry.
Shaw said the previous 200 years of history showed that the “lock’em up and throw away the key macho approach does not work”. He said people needed a stake in the community so they would feel accountable to that community.
When Seymour tried to interrupt again, Shaw said: “I’m starting to realise that the people who can tolerate you are the real heroes.”
Seymour wanted to turn prisons from “universities for crime” into primary schools for literacy, while Peters talked up the need for more police.
Seymour then tried to interrupt Peters, who said he might get away with that with Shaw, but not him and he needed to put some “long trousers on and behave”.
When he said Luxon would expect that of Seymour too, Seymour said: “We’ll send you a card.”
Seymour said cutting 15,000 jobs in the public service wouldn’t affect frontline services, prompting incredulity from the other three leaders.
Peters, who pitched himself as a handbrake on a “hard lurch to the right”, said: “$35 billion is what he’s [Seymour] going to take out of the economy and we’re going straight to a massive recession.”
Derek Cheng is a senior journalist who started at the Herald in 2004. He has worked several stints in the press gallery and is a former deputy political