# Campaign Trail Highlights

> Labour and National clash on economic policies as election campaign intensifies.
- Title: Campaign Trail Highlights · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: Labour and National clash on economic policies as election campaign intensifies. Labour and National leaders announced economic policies and campaign…
- Keywords: labour, national, election 2026, campaign trail, economic policy, small businesses, māori seats, voting locations, big banks, charitable donations, new zealand first, party list
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1784488/everything-that-happened-on-the-campaign-trail-on-7-october
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-07T08:52:26+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: labour, national, election 2026, campaign trail, economic policy, small businesses, māori seats, voting locations, big banks, charitable donations, new zealand first, party list
## Finance Spokespeople Debate
National's finance spokesperson Nicola Willis and Labour's Barbara Edmonds debated economic priorities on RNZ's Morning Report.

> Willis said some households were better off than three years ago, and the country needed to stay on track to grow the economy, create jobs and lift incomes.
## National's Small Business Plan
National unveiled a plan to cut compliance costs for small businesses with a 'tell government once' service and faster disputes processing.

> Spokesperson Cameron Brewer said the plan was focused on practical changes that would give business owners their time back.
## Te Pāti Māori Strategy
Te Pāti Māori candidates Rawiri Waititi and Hana Maipi-Clarke aim to secure Māori seats using MMP's overhang rules.

> The party has urged supporters to give them their electorate votes, and give their party vote to other parties, in an effort to take advantage of MMP's overhang rules.
## Voting Locations Confirmed
Over 2300 voting places for the election were confirmed, including 2200+ Whare Pōti Māori locations and 1679 fully accessible sites.

> Our voting places are in locations people go in their daily lives including community halls, schools, shopping malls, places of worship, tertiary education providers and marae.
## Labour Targets Big Banks
Labour vowed to increase competition among banks to combat rising costs of living and improve customer choices.

> Almost every Kiwi relies on a bank to get paid, pay the bills, buy a home or grow a business.
## ACT Scraps Donation Cap
ACT proposed removing a cap on charitable donations to encourage generosity and support cancer research.

> ACT's plan for New Zealand's first comprehensive cancer centre will also be achieved by partnering with New Zealand's leading philanthropists, families, businesses, charitable trusts, community organisations and successful Kiwis.
## New Zealand First Party List
New Zealand First revealed a reshaped party list with former MPs and All Blacks captain ranked high.

> It's given high placements to former MPs Alfred Ngaro, Michael Laws and Harete Hipango-Brownlie.
## Leaders Meet Voters
National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins visited malls to engage with potential voters in Auckland.

> Hipkins made his way to Sylvia Park, where he was mobbed by a mix of supporters and shoppers.
## Campaign Trail Concludes
The campaign trail concluded with major parties finalizing economic policies and voter engagement strategies ahead of the election.

> The day began with National's finance spokesperson Nicola Willis taking on Labour's Barbara Edmonds on RNZ's Morning Report.
## Key takeaway

Labour and National leaders announced economic policies and campaign activities ahead of the October 2026 election.