Election billboards have begun popping up around the country today, as political parties ramp up their campaigns ahead of November's general election.
With just nine weeks remaining until election day, parties in most parts of the country were now permitted to put up their election hoardings.
ACT leader David Seymour wasted little time, putting up signs in Auckland's Tāmaki electorate shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Most other parties followed later throughout the day, with Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong saying the arrival of the hoardings made the campaign "feel really real now".
"Only nine weeks to go....looking forward to the final sprint," she said.
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was also among those putting up signs, joking that "every single election year politicians do love to hold a hammer".
In Botany, National leader Christopher Luxon was joined by his father and son as he put up his own hoardings.
"There will be close to 170 signs up and down Botany, which is pretty awesome," he told 1News.
The physical advertising came as millions of dollars in donations continued to flow through into the major political parties ahead of November's election.
According to the public register of donations over $20,000, National had received $2.06 million since the start of the year, narrowly ahead of ACT on $2.04m.
Labour had received $869,000, followed by New Zealand First on $573,000, the Opportunity Party on $491,000 and the Greens on $343,000.
Luxon said National had received support from both large and small donors who "really believe in our Government and what we're doing".
Alongside the traditional roadside hoardings, parties were also increasingly taking their campaigns online.
National had begun rolling out AI-generated posts on social media, targeting Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.
Hipkins criticised the approach, saying National was "desperate" and "clutching at straws".
"They're happy to make up lies and they're happy to make up people," he said.
Luxon defended National's use of social media, saying parties needed to reach voters through "every channel we possibly can".
The rules for election signs
While today was the starting gun for election hoardings in much of the country, the rules varied between different areas.
In Christchurch, temporary election signage has been permitted since August 24 — nine weeks out from the start of advance voting — under the city's district plan.
Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington and other major centres restricted signs to the nine weeks before election day.
The Electoral Commission said election hoardings of up to three square metres could be displayed during the nine weeks before election day, although councils could allow larger signs or permit them earlier.
Election advertisements were required to carry a promoter statement identifying who is responsible for them, while signs promoting a candidate or party required written authorisation.
All election advertising must end and signs must be taken down by midnight on November 6, ahead of election day on November 7.
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