Campaigning in New Zealand's October 14 election has reached fever pitch, with claims and counter-claims of intimidation of candidates, budgeting blunders and a debate pull-out.
Tuesday night's richly-anticipated leaders debate in Christchurch will not go ahead after Labour leader Chris Hipkins got COVID-19 and National leader Chris Luxon declined to re-organise his diary.
The debate, hosted by The Press newspaper, takes place each election in front of a rowdy hall of Kiwis and has seen some of the most memorable moments in recent NZ political history.
Labour's campaign team said it offered up several other evenings to make the debate happen, saying Mr Luxon was chicken.
"Christopher Luxon is taking advantage of Chris Hipkins' sickness by trying to slip out of The Press debate entirely," campaign chair Megan Woods said.
"Christopher Luxon has a habit of walking out of press conferences when the questions get too hard, now he is chickening out of a debate."
National's counterpart Chris Bishop was incredulous, saying Labour was "lying on a near-daily basis" as it was desperate and behind in the polls.
"The latest lie today is that the National Party has pulled out of a leaders debate," he said.
"Chris Hipkins has COVID. He is not going to the debate on Tuesday ... Chris Luxon can't pull out of a debate that's not happening!"
National has also been hit by further claims of financial incompetence following long-running doubts of plans to tax foreign homebuyers to pay for income tax relief.
Labour's finance spokesman Grant Robertson says National has promised to help councils fund expensive water infrastructure - the subject of highly contentious reforms - but not budgeted for it.
"They have completely failed to provide any funding ... the only outcome from that will be an increase to the rates bills of individuals and communities," he said.
Speaking from Auckland, Mr Luxon rubbished Mr Robertson's management in response.
"I don't take any lessons from Labour on economics when they have messed their numbers for six years in a row," he said.
The animosity between the two major parties appears white-hot, and Mr Bishop says Labour is to blame for tensions in the electorate.
All parties have complained of increased toxicity in this campaign, with some reporting assaults and intimidation.
A young Maori Party candidate has suffered a number of politically-motivated home invasions in recent weeks, while Labour MP Angela Roberts has filed a police report after being slapped by a constituent following a debate.
National says several of its candidates and volunteers have come under pressure from gangs, with one forced to move house.
Greens co-leader James Shaw said his candidates "have been subjected to both racist and misogynist abuse online and occasionally in person".
"There is always an undercurrent of it ... I think some of the political parties are creating a sort of an enabling environment, a permissive environment," he said.
While Mr Shaw named ACT and NZ First as parties deserving criticism, Mr Bishop said Labour had turning up the heat.
During the last debate, Mr Hipkins used a quote by an anti-Maori NZ First candidate to skewer Mr Luxon, asking him why his party was willing to go into coalition with them.
"I think the Labour Party is desperate," Mr Bishop said.
"I certainly don't think the National Party has been been the cause of it ... we are running a unifying positive campaign."
