17 Aug 2020

Covid-19: Collins backs November election

From Morning Report, 6:38 am on 17 August 2020

New Zealand will find out at 10am on Monday if the election will go ahead on 19 September, or whether it will be delayed because of the Covid-19 outbreak in Auckland.

The National Party leader Judith Collins says her party could back 21 November as a new election date.

The decision on whether to stick to 19 September, or delay because of the Auckland outbreak, is Jacinda Ardern's alone to make.

All other parties bar the Greens want a delay - Labour's coalition partner New Zealand First is urging Ardern to go with the November date, arguing a "free and fair" election can't be held in the current circumstances.

Collins told RNZ political editor Jane Patterson she agrees.