National Party leader Christopher Luxon said his secret to thriving on the campaign trail is being himself.
Luxon was top of the preferred prime minister stakes in the latest 1News Verian poll for the first time, up three to 26%.
Asked why, he said it was because New Zealanders wanted a change of direction.
“I think everyone recognises we’re in a tough place, we’re going in the wrong direction and they want change.”
“I want to go to work on solving problems and I want to get things done because that’s actually what improves people’s daily lives.”
He said his comfort on the campaign trail was “just me being me”.
“I’m a big extrovert, there’s nothing that’s changed.
“It’s how I always have been and how I am. I’ve really enjoyed the campaign because it’s a great chance to get out and talk to New Zealanders and find out what their concerns are.”
The poll also showed National and ACT would need New Zealand First to form a government, but the left bloc - Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori - would not come close to a majority, with just 53 seats total.
Luxon said the election was going to be close and a National win was “not a done deal”, adding people should be “sober-minded, be thoughtful, be intentional” about their party vote and vote for National.
He said neither he nor his staff had contacted New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and he did not intend to ahead of election day on October 14.
“The power is sitting with the New Zealand people.
“In an MMP environment, we have to work with what they deliver on election night.”
Luxon said Labour leader Chris Hipkins had run a “pretty negative, scary, fear-mongering, scare-mongering campaign".
“But I wish him well, a speedy recovery, I look forward to seeing him back on the campaign trail.”
Hipkins 'not at all' worried
Hipkins, who was up two to 25% in the preferred prime minister ratings, said the combined National-Act party vote was gradually decreasing.
“I think New Zealanders are increasingly seeing that if [National and ACT] win, they’re going to lose.”
He said a National-ACT government would be bad for Māori, Pasifika, mortgage-holders, and those who care about child poverty and climate change.
He claimed a National-ACT government would also put thousands of people out of work.
Hipkins said he was “not at all” worried about the preferred prime minister stakes as the election was about issues.
“Of course they matter but there are a variety of different polls out there which measure preferred prime minister, who do you trust most, who do you like most - I’m not going to get obsessed about those, I’m focused on winning votes because ultimately it’s the votes that are going to determine who gets to be prime minister.
Hipkins said Luxon was avoiding answering tough questions.
“He still can’t explain how he’s going to pay for all of his unaffordable promises and he still walks away from any difficult questions. I don’t think that’s the sort of behaviour he could get away with as prime minister.”
Hipkins also said a National-ACT-New Zealand First coalition would be “incredibly unstable” and the parties would struggle to agree on most things.
“The best way to avoid that is to give your party vote to Labour.”
“There’s still a week and a half to go and what we’re seeing is quite a low voter turnout at this point, because I think there is still a lot of undecided vote out there. There is still a lot of Kiwis who are going to make their mind up at the last minute. That means that the last week and a half of the campaign is actually going to be really important.
“I’m absolutely convinced that there’s still a way for us to win this election.”
Today's 1News Verian poll showed 10% of respondents didn't know who they would vote for or refused to say.
Right bloc dip a 'huge worry' - Seymour
ACT leader David Seymour said the party vote trending down for the right bloc over the last four 1News Verian polls was a “huge worry for all of New Zealand”.
“We need a stable united government that’s ready to cut wasteful spending, get your living costs under control from day one. Another vote for ACT would actually secure that.”
He said ACT and National “strongly prefer” to work together in a two-party coalition.
Seymour said the two parties would create a stronger economy to build the health system needed and make the streets safe.
“The alternatives are instability, inaction or chaos. We can’t afford to go on the way we are right now. ACT and National together, have a solution.”
On today's poll, National and ACT would need NZ First's eight MPs to form the next government.
"I hate the phrase king maker, but the reality is we’ve got an obligation, no matter what the circumstances, to try ensure three years of stable, much better government," Peters said.
"That’s our objective and everyone of my colleagues knows that."
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