The Latest Breaking News from Christopher Luxon

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is facing an uphill battle to woo voters less than three weeks before an election

The Green Party is eating up the vote on the left in a new poll, and for the third time this month National needs Winston Peters to form a government, reports Jo Moir

Christopher Luxon has given the voters what they wanted – transparency on who National will work with. But, in doing so some of his supporters worry he may have given New Zealand First a boost.

Over back-to-back days in Auckland with the two Chrises, political editor Jo Moir observed increased security and vetting, and safe party-faithful crowds.

Halfway through the campaign period and with Labour still falling in the polls, Chris Hipkins has debuted a new and more aggressive approach at a rally in Wellington.

Crime has been one of the dominant themes of this election campaign and it proved to be the hot button in the second televised debate this week. As Mark Jennings writes, the leaders of the minor parties were taking no prisoners in their battle for crucial votes.

Many are feeling the sooner the election is over, the better. The polite and courteous reaction from voters on the doorstop parallels what happened in the 1990 election with Labour's record landslide loss to National – voters had long since made up their minds to change the government, argues Peter Dunne

The latest 1News-Verian poll comes too quickly to soak up the impact of Tuesday's debate and broadly shows no big changes for the right or the left, Marc Daalder writes

The party's education policy would refresh the refreshed curriculum, cut red tape, and bring in stricter performance measures on schools and students.

Last night’s live TV leaders debate between Labour’s Chris Hipkins and National’s Christopher Luxon made clear the policy and leadership style differences between the two contenders to become New Zealand’s next prime minister.

The first leader’s debate didn’t reach any great heights but those directly involved will not be unhappy with the outcome. Mark Jennings gives his thoughts on debate night - round one.