National and Labour launch election 2026 campaigns
National and Labour unveiled pledge cards and new policy promises as both parties tried to narrow the gap in a tight election race.
- On Sunday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National Party and Labour leader Chris Hipkins officially launched their election campaigns in Auckland, setting the stage for a tight race ahead of the November 7 vote.
- Both National and Labour are currently struggling, with recent polling data showing them regularly drawing less than 30 per cent support, intensifying pressure to secure undecided voters before election day.
- Luxon unveiled National's 2026 pledge card with 10 commitments, including "no new taxes" and economic growth designed to create 220,000 new jobs over the next four years.
- Hipkins announced a policy to write off 10 per cent of student loan balances for New Zealand-based graduates, emphasizing the election remains "simply about the cost of living."
- While National drew around a thousand people to a large venue, Hipkins' boisterous event filled the 690-seat theatre to capacity, illustrating differing energy levels between the two political camps.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Field notes from National and Labour’s campaign launches
The two major parties kicked off their campaigns in Auckland on Sunday. Joel MacManus reports that both were headlined by Chrises, both incited chanting, but only one used the word “bullshit”. National and Labour officially launched their election campaigns one after another on Sunday afternoon – though, at first glance, neither event looked like a political rally. National held its launch at the newfangled New Zealand International Convention …
NZ political parties court squeezed voters as election race heats up
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's two main parties launched their election campaigns on Sunday (Sept 27), with Christopher Luxon's National and Chris Hipkins' Labour both pledging to restore the idea that hard-working New Zealanders should be able to get ahead.
Hipkins fires up at campaign launch with attack on Luxon, National
Labour leader Chris Hipkins came out swinging at the party's campaign launch, hammering home a line that PM Christopher Luxon is “out of touch”, saying he doesn't take “middle New Zealand” seriously.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
