# Luxon and Hipkins face off in leaders debate

> National and Labour leaders clash in election debate amid tight polls and cost-of-living claims.
- Title: Luxon and Hipkins face off in leaders debate · NZ Herald
- Summary: National and Labour leaders clash in election debate amid tight polls and cost-of-living claims. Labour and National leaders face off in election debate…
- Keywords: christopher luxon, chris hipkins, herald leaders debate, election 2026, cost of living, polls, national party, labour party, politics, news, Luxon, Hipkins
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/christopher-luxon-and-chris-hipkins-to-face-off-in-herald-leaders-debate/4RJCZHTOUNF2BIZV4EPCY34AVM
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: christopher luxon, chris hipkins, herald leaders debate, election 2026, cost of living, polls, national party, labour party, politics, news
## Leaders debate preview
Labour leader Chris Hipkins and National leader Christopher Luxon will face off in their second televised leaders’ debate of the election.
## Tight election polls
The latest 1 News-Verian poll shows National down one point to 28%; Labour at 28%; NZ First at 10%; Greens at 15%; Act at 10%; Opportunity at 8%; Te Pāti Māori at 0.4%.
## Labour's cost-of-living claim
Labour claims an Auckland family with two kids pays $6302 more a year under National, excluding 2024 tax cuts and mortgage reductions.
## National's response
National campaign chairman Simeon Brown called Labour's attack 'sad', citing inflation hitting 32-year high under National and current 1.9% under Labour.
## Labour's ad campaign
Labour launched ads accusing National of wanting to 'freeze your pay' by linking minor parties' policies to National's tax attacks.
## National's tax criticism
National campaign chairman Simeon Brown stated Labour's tax policies led to 5.5% Official Cash Rate, causing pressure on homeowners.
## Labour's policy paper
Labour's campaign chairman Kieran McAnulty said the $6302 annual cost figure does not include coalition tax cuts or mortgage cost reductions.
## Debate timing
The debate is hosted by the Herald and moderated by Ryan Bridge, with live coverage on herald.co.nz, the Herald mobile app, and Three.
## Polling context
The latest poll shows no path to power for National without Opportunity, which Luxon has ruled out.
## Labour's tax attack
Hipkins previously called National's tax attack 'bullshit', stating the claim is false.
## Policy comparison
Labour's policy paper claims higher prices for food, petrol, power, rates, healthcare, and school transport cost families $120 weekly.
## National's response to ads
National campaign chairman Simeon Brown described Labour's attack as 'sad', noting inflation reached 32-year high under National.
## Debate outcome
Readers will rank each leader's performance during the debate using the 'worm' feature.
## Key takeaway

Labour and National leaders face off in election debate after tight polls show both parties neck and neck.