Election 2026: Expert raises doubts over Labour's campaign launch

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Mike Hosking Breakfast

Author: Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026, 9:34am

Labour Party media stand up after the campaign launch at Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland, on 27th September 2026. New Zealand Herald photo by Sylvie Whinray

There's a feeling Labour's leader is trying to ramp up the energy as election campaigning officially gets underway.

Both major parties launched their campaigns in Auckland yesterday.

While National stuck with slick videos and multiple speeches at the flashy International Convention Centre, Labour opted for a high-energy performance at Manukau's Due Drop Events Centre.

Political commentator Brigitte Morten says Labour leader Chris Hipkins reacted to talk he'd been looking uncomfortable on the campaign trail.

"If you don't want to be on the campaign, you clearly don't want to be Prime Minister again, so I think that was very much what was being told to him and I think he really tried to deliver on that."

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