Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins will face off in a primetime Leaders Debate at 7pm on October 6, according to TVNZ. The live debate will screen on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ as part of the broadcaster’s election campaign coverage and will be moderated by Q+A and 1News at Six presenter Jack Tame.
Luxon Declines Second Debate as Broadcaster Schedules Alternatives
While the October 6 event is locked in, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has declined an invitation to appear in a second Leaders Debate scheduled for November 5, which is two days before election day. According to TVNZ, the broadcaster will instead use that scheduled time slot for alternative election programming.
Alongside the leaders’ showdown, TVNZ confirmed a Multi-Party Debate will screen on October 13 at 7pm on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+. Breakfast presenter Tova O’Brien will moderate the multi-party event. The final party line-up for this debate remains open until the week of the event, depending on the timing of TVNZ’s political polls to determine which parties qualify. Parties that have already qualified based on recent poll results include National, Labour, ACT, New Zealand First, the Green Party, Te Pāti Māori and The Opportunity Party. TVNZ stated that the multi-party debate is designed to help voters understand potential coalition deals, identify which party could hold the balance of power, and evaluate what possible governing arrangements could mean for the country.
New Enrolment Rules Threaten to Lock Out Late Voters
Voters must be enrolled by October 25 or risk being locked out of the upcoming election under voting rule changes enacted by the Government last year to speed up vote counting. During the early voting period and on election day in 2023, around 450,000 people either enrolled or updated their details. Under the updated rules, individuals not enrolled by October 25 will be unable to vote this time around, while people enrolled in the wrong electorate will only be permitted to cast a party vote.
Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne noted last year that the electoral focus is on ensuring people enrol earlier so their votes count. Ahead of the general election, authorities plan to run a nationwide information and education programme to inform communities about enrolment deadlines and procedures. The Government also introduced automatic enrolment updates to allow the Electoral Commission to refresh voter details using data from other government agencies.
Polling places will open from 9am to 7pm on November 7, with advance voting locations operating different hours during the early voting period. Enrolled voters are scheduled to receive a voting information pack and EasyVote card in the mail roughly a month before election day. Voters whose names do not appear on the printed roll at polling places will need to complete a special declaration vote form.