Labour leader Chris Hipkins has doubled down on allegations his opponents are race-baiting in New Zealand's election campaign, delivering a charged speech pledging to uphold the Treaty of Waitangi.
In Wednesday night's leaders debate, Mr Hipkins accused National leader Chris Luxon of courting parties with anti-Maori candidates, reading out a racist diatribe from a New Zealand First candidate.
Mr Luxon's National party has pledged to govern with NZ First after the October 14 election if their numbers are needed to reach a majority.
In Northland on Thursday, Mr Hipkins delivered a stern defence of his government's record for Maori, saying the election of a National-led government would scotch progress.
"In this election - our unfinished journey towards ... the sense of nationhood we've worked so hard to define - is at risk," he said.
In its two terms, Labour has introduced compulsory NZ history in schools, a public holiday for Matariki, the Maori new year, and reformed the health system to include a dedicated Maori Health Authority.
It has also steadfastly increased Maori in power-sharing arrangements, a divisive program known to Kiwis as "co-governance".
National has pledged to scrap the Maori Health Authority in favour of what Mr Luxon calls "one system for all", a phrase which Mr Hipkins said made him angry.
"Angry that he simplifies a long battle many have fought to have a health system that finally works for Maori," he said.
"Angry that he thinks he knows better than Maori about Maori Health and well-being.
"But what is worst of all, it makes me angry that he wants 'one system for all' even when that one system fails 20 per cent of the population and has failed them for decades.
"Christopher Luxon is choosing to continue to deliver poor health outcomes for Maori because it gets a few points in the polls."
In a press conference after his speech, Mr Hipkins was asked if he was accusing Mr Luxon of race-baiting.
"He's certainly not calling it out," he said.
"I'm certainly accusing the collective National-ACT-New Zealand First potential coalition of doing that."
Speaking from Bay of Plenty later on Thursday, Mr Luxon was aghast.
"I disagree completely. Chris Hipkins is a desperate guy in a desperate situation," he said.
Earlier on Newstalk ZB, Mr Luxon was even more dismissive of Mr Hipkins' campaign.
"Everyone knows Labour is rubbish," he said.
"He has no record to run on. He has no ideas to take the country forward ... He turned the debate into a very negative one and a very personal one."
National leads Labour by an average of 10 points in recent polling.
While Labour's focus was on Maori delivery, Mr Luxon re-announced the party's gang policy on Thursday.
Gang numbers have risen in New Zealand - partially due to deportations from Australia - and concern around law and order has grown to be the second-most important issue to Kiwis at this election.
National has pledged to introduce laws within 100 of taking office that will ban gang patches in public, give police powers to break up gang gatherings, and allow them to search gang members' homes without a warrant.
"These are laws that have existed in Australia that we have seen that have great effect," Mr Luxon said.
National has won favour with parts of the electorate for advocating tough-on-crime policies, saying Labour is "soft on gangs".
"Enough is enough ... gangs peddle misery," he said.
