# Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon debate minimum wage gaffe

> National leader Christopher Luxon admits minimum wage hikes lag inflation after Labour's Chris Hipkins corrects him during leaders' debate.
- Title: Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon debate minimum wage gaffe
- Summary: National leader Christopher Luxon admits minimum wage hikes lag inflation after Labour's Chris Hipkins corrects him during leaders' debate. National leader…
- Keywords: chris hipkins, christopher luxon, minimum wage, inflation, nz election 2026, leaders debate, political gaffe, national party, labour party, politics, news, Chris
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-hipkins-and-christopher-luxon-were-tied-then-came-the-minimum-wage-clanger/premium/MAYVUXTB2NAXPJY6GB2BAZSZHU
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: chris hipkins, christopher luxon, minimum wage, inflation, nz election 2026, leaders debate, political gaffe, national party, labour party, politics, news
## Leaders debate starts
National leader Christopher Luxon felt relieved after surviving tough questions on leadership and truth telling in politics.
## Minimum wage pledge
Both leaders pledged to lift the minimum wage at the rate of inflation during the debate segment.
## Luxon's gaffe
Luxon admitted he did not know the coalition had three times lifted the minimum wage below inflation.
## Inflation impact
A 2% wage hike versus 4% inflation costs a full-time worker $950 annually in savings.
## Labour's policy
Labour raised minimum wage above inflation, putting pressure on businesses during their term.
## Hipkins' correction
Hipkins reminded Luxon that the coalition had never lifted the minimum wage at the rate of inflation.
## Policy knowledge
Hipkins used deeper policy knowledge to point out Luxon's missteps during the debate.
## Country music test
Hipkins completed Dolly Parton's '9-to-5' lyrics before Luxon during the country music segment.
## Pay equity reforms
Luxon struggled to explain coalition's pay equity reforms which would be litigated on the campaign.
## Housing equity
Luxon defended housing equity after National allowed councils to reintroduce minimum car park requirements.
## Capital gains tax
Luxon warned capital gains tax risks eroding home equity and prolonging economic downturn.
## Debate outcome
The debate did not shift campaign momentum despite Luxon's strong housing equity argument.
## Ministerial portfolios
Hipkins blocked Green and Te Pāti Māori from police and justice portfolios in any government he leads.
## Qiulae Wong
Qiulae Wong might have won the debate after spending the night at a finance debate in Queenstown.
## Campaign impact
Luxon's minimum wage gaffe did not change voters' perception of him as out of touch with low-income people.
## What happens next
National will likely focus on anti-capital gains tax campaign before voting starts.
## Key takeaway

National leader Christopher Luxon admitted minimum wage increases lag inflation after Labour's Chris Hipkins corrected him during the leaders' debate.