CAMPAIGN DIARY

The latest news from the campaign trail.

YESTERDAY

The last 1News Colmar Brunton poll before the election shows National roaring ahead of Labour by nine points, but the Green-Labour bloc together is polling one point less. New Zealand First is hovering right on the 5 per cent threshold.

TODAY

Winston Peters speaks at a rally to “Save the Auckland Waterfront” at midday in front of the ferry building.

TOMORROW

For some light campaign relief, 7 Days will be running an election special featuring various MPs sitting alongside regular comedians on the show.

OF NOTE

People would unquestionably pay higher tax under Labour than under National because Labour would cancel the tax cuts due to take effect from April 1. But Labour accuses National of telling lies when it says Labour would raise taxes. It sounds like a similar argument that National has when Labour says National has cut health spending. It all depends on “compared with what?” “I’m calling National out for running a campaign that is an affront to democracy and the principles of honesty, decency and fairness.”

Labour finance spokesman Grant Robertson objects to National’s tax attack ads.

ADVANCE VOTING

The Electoral Commission advises that 674,162 people have voted early, compared with 349,074 by the same time at the 2014 election and 151,639 at the same time in the 2011 election.

MMP IN NUTSHELL

You have two votes under MMP. The Electorate Vote is for the person you would like to be your local Member of Parliament. The Party Vote is the most important and is for the party you most want to be in Government. The Party Vote determines how many MPs each party has. Parties can only have MPs if they win at least 5 per cent of the Party Vote or if they win an electorate seat.