2026 New Zealand General Election - Media Coverage

TV News and Current Affairs General News and Current Affairs Topics
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The campaign getting underway properly this week with the first main leaders debate tomorrow night on TVNZ.

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2026 Election Debates on TV (all times NZDT):

(all debates listed, times and networks subject to change)

  • October 6th, 7:00pm:
    1News Your Vote Leaders Debate - Luxon (National), Hipkins (Labour)
    Moderator: Jack Tame
    Watch on TVNZ 1/TVNZ+

  • October 7th, 7:00pm:
    ** The NZ Herald Future of New Zealand Debate - Willis (National), Edmonds (Labour), Jones (NZ First), McKee (ACT), Paul (Green), Kaipara (Te Pāti Māori), Eb (Opportunity)
    Moderator: Ryan Bridge
    Watch on Three/ThreeNow/NZHerald app, website and YouTube

  • October 13th, 7:00pm:
    1News Your Vote Multi-Party Leaders Debate
    Moderator: Tova O’Brien
    Watch on TVNZ 1/TVNZ+

  • October 14th, 7:00pm:
    The NZ Herald Leaders’ Debate - Luxon (National), Hipkins (Labour)
    Moderator: Ryan Bridge
    Watch on Three/ThreeNow/NZHerald app, website and YouTube/Radio simulcast on Newstalk ZB

  • October 21st, 7:00pm:
    The NZ Herald Powerbrokers’ Debate
    Moderator: Ryan Bridge
    Watch on Three/ThreeNow/NZHerald app, wesbite and YouTube

  • October 28th:
    Whakatau 2026 - Māori Leaders’ Debate
    Moderator: Moana Maniapoto
    Watch on Whakaata Māori/MĀORI+

  • October 29th, 7:30pm:
    1News Your Vote Kaupapa Māori Debate
    Moderator: Scotty Morrison, Te Aniwa Hurihanganui
    Watch on TVNZ 1/TVNZ+

  • November 5th, 7:00pm:
    1News Your Vote - Q+A People’s Debate
    Moderator: Jack Tame
    Watch on TVNZ 1/TVNZ+

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Whataata Maori have been running election programmes on Tuesdays for the past couple of weeks already. Seen it in the listings, haven’t watched*, seems to be Maori electorate by Maori electorate.

*As usual, I won’t be watching/listening-to anything even remotely political until election night. Much prefer a life with less stress, bs and negativity.

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The first leaders debate is tonight - Luxon v Hipkins Round 2.

Tonight 7pm on TVNZ 1, TVNZ+ and 1News.co.nz. Sign language coverage on Channel 200.

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1News latest poll ahead of tonight’s debate:

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Herald’s Future of NZ debate to overrun its finish time.

Edit: 8:52pm finish

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How did Three handle it?

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The Leaders Debate on TVNZ on Tuesday was ok, but The Post Multi Leader Debate and especially last nights debate was terrible.

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According to Screenscribe, it will feature MPs from ACT, the Green Party, New Zealand First, Te Pati Maori, and the Opportunity Party.

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