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First leaders debate shows undecided voters hold the power - commentator

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Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 7 Oct 2026, 10:52am
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Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins clashed in TVNZ's first debate. Photos / Harley Peters, TVNZ

A political commentator believes a lot of weight still sits with the undecided voter. 

Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins went head-to-head in the first main leaders debate last night. 

The TVNZ clash saw the pair tussle over tax, education, health, the cost of living, and crime in front of a studio audience of undecided voters. 

The audience gave Hipkins the win with 49% support to Luxon's 24%. 

But commentator Brigitte Morten told Andrew Dickens 27% percent were still undecided. 

She says we're only a couple of weeks out from voting opening, and for a lot of people there's a lot of soft vote. 

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