# Auckland election race hinges on city's challenges

> Politicians focus on Auckland's economic struggles to win tight election race.
- Title: Auckland election race hinges on city's challenges · RNZ
- Summary: Politicians focus on Auckland's economic struggles to win tight election race. Labour and other candidates target Auckland's homelessness, unemployment, and…
- Keywords: auckland, labour, election, homelessness, unemployment, property slump, newmarket business association, wayne brown, lifewise, electoral commission, politics, news
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1786725/politicians-pin-hopes-of-winning-knife-edge-race-on-auckland-this-election
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-07T17:48:26+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: auckland, labour, election, homelessness, unemployment, property slump, newmarket business association, wayne brown, lifewise, electoral commission, politics, news
## Politicians focus on Auckland
Politicians have been relentlessly focused on Auckland this election campaign, heavily weighting their time there during what is still a knife-edge race.
## Labour leader Chris Hipkins
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said they didn't do as well in Auckland at the last election as they hoped, but are getting better reception this campaign.

> We didn't do as well here at the last election as we hoped to
## Auckland economic challenges
Auckland has been on the wrong side of the two speed economic recovery and is the poster child for homelessness, unemployment and a property slump.
## Mark Knoff-Thomas on Auckland
Newmarket Business Association boss Mark Knoff-Thomas said Auckland is the pumping engine room of the economy but has been neglected by Wellington.

> Auckland is - or has been, and should be - the pumping engine room of the new zealand economy
## Wayne Brown on transport policies
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown said politicians should not interfere with city transport policies as they cannot get a majority to fix the economy.

> It's none of their business, they're supposed to be fixing the economy
## Pam Elgar on vulnerable people
Lifewise chief executive Pam Elgar said politicians don't fully appreciate the pressures faced by homeless and housing deprived people.

> I don't think the majority of politicians do really fully appreciate some of the pressures that our most vulnerable people
## Auckland election strategy
Politicians are targeting Auckland's economic challenges to secure narrow election victory in this knife-edge race.
## Key takeaway

Labour and other candidates target Auckland's homelessness, unemployment, and property slump to secure narrow election victory.