Labour leader Chris Hipkins was back out on the campaign trail having been side-lined in the final laps due to Covid-19.
Hipkins left isolation today after testing positive for the virus on Sunday.
He visited a local go-kart track in Porirua and notched up a few spins. Earlier, he shook hands with locals during a walkabout in the town centre and seemed to brush away the Covid cobwebs with a TikTok dance alongside youth workers.
"I'm feeling great. Look, even while I was isolating there was still a very energetic Labour campaign happening on the ground and you saw that every day," he said.
Local party members shared their thoughts on Hipkins' isolation while waving hording signs with their party leader this morning.
"It's really sad that he's been sick this week so we're all really happy to have him back," one woman said.
"We've all been through this Covid thing, and it was just such unfortunate timing, but I think our messages are getting out there regardless," another added.
"You know there's nothing like having the leader in place," a third woman said.
National, meanwhile, rolled into New Plymouth today and at one event the party's leader Christopher Luxon took centrestage on a large and impressive trailer while swaying the locals.
A group of youngsters waving hording signs were glad to see the party leader.
Asked who they thought would win, the children gave a resounding response: "National."
As for why: "Because they're better."
However, claims that National has not been entirely upfront with its tax cut promises sent around 50,000 New Zealanders to look up the party's tax calculator just yesterday — according to the party.
"We have been incredibly clear…I'll just put to you my friend, I'll put to you that Labour's position on tax is more fractured than the Ranfurly Shield," Luxon said.
"Their numbers don't add up and I think New Zealanders are seeing it for the scam that it is," Hipkins said in response.
With Labour lagging behind National in recent polls, Hipkins was asked how crucial the undecided voter is for Labour.
"Absolutely critical. We know that there's enough undecided voters out there to completely change the outcome of the election," he said.
"There's a lot of noise in this election. As I say, it comes down to who's got the common sense ideas to take our country forward," Luxon said.
It wasn't just well-wishers welcoming Hipkins back on the campaign today. Winston Peters had a message of his own, his party releasing a new video aimed at Labour.
"In this election our commitment to you is... NZ First will not return Labour to power," the video stated.
"It's kind of immaterial. I'm not working with Winston Peters. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Don't want to do it again," Hipkins said.
SHARE ME