12 Oct 2023

Election 2023: All the latest developments on 12 October

9:13 pm on 12 October 2023

Tonight's TVNZ debate has seen Chris Hipkins confidently on the attack, with Christopher Luxon trying to appear more calm and collected.

Voters will of course be the ones who decide, but this final face-off in the battle of the Chrises was the last real chance for either leader to meaningfully shift voters before election day.

With recent polling showing Labour making up lost ground, Hipkins had nothing to lose - and continually challenged Luxon over his answers.

Luxon in response frequently called for Hipkins to "calm down" - even making a reference to Taylor Swift - and allow him to answer, but at times got into the verbal sparring game himself.

It was certainly more lively than the first TVNZ debate, with moderator Jessica Mutch-McKay at times wishing she had brought a bell and resorting to talking over both in the lead-up to an ad break.

Look back over Thursday's updates on the RNZ's live blog:

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