Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has accused Opposition Leader Chris Luxon of courting the support of racists in another combative leaders' debate ahead of next month's New Zealand election.
The two choices for prime minister at the October 14 election squared off in Auckland on Wednesday night in the second of four leaders' debates being held during the campaign.
Similar to the first debate, it was scrappy and combative as both Chrises offered responses at machine-gun speed, often speaking over each other in an unedifying spectacle.
Pundits in a post-debate show and the crowd, full of undecided voters, gave the debate to Mr Hipkins, who improved on his lacklustre performance in the first debate and was full of beans.
Mr Luxon was also in fine spirits but relied too much on pre-prepared answers and was unable to respond.
"Calm down," Mr Luxon told Mr Hipkins.
"I know you're keyed up and I appreciate you've come out here to have a fight."
Later, he said "all this negativity from Chris isn't good for him, I feel like I should give him a hug".
"You don't like to be challenged do you?" Mr Hipkins countered.
"If you actually answered any of the questions I wouldn't need to challenge you."
Down by 10 per cent in the latest poll, the debates are prime opportunities for Mr Hipkins to bridge that gap, given their expected audience of a million New Zealanders.
The crowd offered Mr Hipkins the biggest laughs and biggest cheers across the night.
However, there was an audible gasp when Mr Hipkins used a question on racism to challenge Mr Luxon.
Moderator Paddy Gower asked the pair whether they believed NZ was a racist country.
"I don't think we're a racist country but I think some of our politicians are certainly playing the race card in this election," Mr Hipkins said.
Asked if one was in the room, Mr Hipkins replied: "Well, he certainly wants to work with people who are."
Mr Luxon was taken aback.
"Oh that is unacceptable," he said.
"We are not a racist country but there are people who are racist within New Zealand."
Mr Hipkins then retorted with a quote from a New Zealand First candidate, the party of Winston Peters, who espoused anti-Maori views.
"Christopher, you're willing to work with these people - why?" he said.
"I don't want to work with New Zealand First but I am going to make the call if that means I stop you, te Pati Maori and the Greens coming to power," Mr Luxon said.
Mr Luxon was also caught flat-footed when he was asked who would make a better foreign minister - former National leader Judith Collins or Mr Peters.
"Haven't even thought about it," he said.
"You know she's the one on your team," Mr Hipkins said, to laughs.
Asked to describe the NZ economy in one word, Mr Hipkins offered "recovering" and Mr Luxon "broken".
Mr Luxon also had an awkward moment when he was asked whether MDMA users were criminals, first saying they weren't, and then that they were, later blaming the slip-up on nerves.
