TVNZ's text poll showed 61% of respondents believed Prime Minister John Key came out of the first TVNZ leaders debate on top of Labour leader Phil Goff (39%).
Who do you think won? What were the most interesting comments/arguments?
The first debate of the election campaign of the two hopeful PM's following the November 26 election was held on Monday night at TVNZ's studios in Auckland.
See a live blog of the debate below.
See John Key's reaction to the debate in the video above.
See Phil Goff's reaction in the video below.
See and compare policies from all parties currently in Parliament here.
See our full Election 2011 coverage here.
Green Party co-leaders Russel Norman and Metiria Turei held their own 'debate' during the Key/Goff encounter, responding to what the two major party leaders said. See it here at the Greens' website.
Key and Goff have both refused to appear on TV debates with the minor parties.
Below is a live-blog from the debate.
6:57pm: I'm at TVNZ's Auckland studios live-blogging while watching the TV One election debate between Prime Minister John Key, and Labour Party leader Phil Goff. It's just about to begin at 7pm
7:03 And we're off. Opening debates. Key sounding brighter than Goff, who takes a much sterner tone than the PM.
7:05: On super age: Goff saying the costs from the doubling of people on Super will mean 10s of billions of dollars of costs to New Zealand over the next few decades.
Goff tells Key he needs leadership and courage now to raise the super age. However, Labour's policy starts the age rising at 2020.
Key retorts by saying Labour's policies would require an extra NZ$17 billion of borrowings over the next four years. Attacks Labour for not giving fully costed policies.
7:09: Key touting Air New Zealand as a good example of the mixed ownership model - the proceeds of which he'll put toward social infrastructure
Goff saying the dividends from the SOEs would help pay for schools. Says govt can only sell them once.
He tells Key he doesn't own the assets, New Zealanders do. Lands a good shot on Key there.
7:13: First ad break - They look like they're trying to ignore each other. Phew. Quite a quick start from them both. Discussed capital gains tax. Goff asked what the good part of the policy was, uses the Sam Morgan selling Trade Me as example of why one is needed. Says it would raise the revenue Key's asset sales are for.
Key retorts by saying Labour's policies would have more taxation, higher interest rates and higher compliance costs for business. Goff retorts to that by saying Key himself raised GST.
7:20: Goff talking straight at Key - addressing him - whereas Key talking to Guyon Espiner. Obviously a tactic from Goff to target the PM.
On cost of living, Key pre-empts Labour's min wage policy, says it a hike to NZ$15 an hour from NZ$13 now would mean small businesses would sack people to deal with the higher costs.
7:24: Goff says Labour not unfriendly to small businesses - says small business owners tell him the problem is that no one is spending because they don't have money in their pockets - need a wage rise.
Key says raising the minimum wage would hurt small businesses due to the extra costs.
7:27: In response to Q from Fran O'Sullivan, Goff says Labour would cut youth unemployment in half in three years.
Key says you couldn't guarantee that. Touts his new 'starting out wage' policy. Says when Labour raises the min wage, young people will become unemployed.
7:30: Second ad break. Goff trying to look relaxed, went off to talk to the audience. Then Key realises, and goes to do the same.
7:33: The reaction from the press room at TVNZ (we're watching a live feed from there) is that Goff's tactic to address Key is working for him.
7:35: Onto welfare now. Tonight a National Party email was mistakenly released outlining plans to get 46,000 people off welfare - announcement tomorrow from Hamilton.
Key says more details tomorrow, says Nats will try to upskill people and make sure there was a vibrant economy. Key touts policy to give spending cards to 16/17 year old mums.
Goff talking about Labour policy to pay young person's dole payments to employer if they take them on as an apprentice.
7:50: Onto the environment and mining. Goff says a disaster from deep sea drilling could wipe out the east coast. Key says NZ would have to have high-level regulations to stop that from happening.
Key here talking up the economic potential from mining - says NZ earned NZ$3.2 billion from its mineral resources last year, while the Aussies earned NZ$177 billion - that's why they're the lucky country.
Key ties mining into being able to provide better jobs. Goff agrees there's a place for mining in New Zealand.
8:05: Few connection probs there - we need some ultra fast broadband...
Onto insurance market in Canterbury now. Goff says govt needs to put pressure on insurance companies to get things moving. Asked about his policy that Labour would step in as a lender of last resort, he says the govt shouldn't be diving in, but backed the policy.
Key says seismic activity still ongoing. Says quake is the biggest economic impact on any developed economy they can find. Says the government's package to buy out red-zone homes was very extensive.
Goff said it wouldn't be enough if the recovery in Christchurch was stalled.
Moved onto closing the gap with Australia. Key admits there's still miles to go, and that the gap took 30-40 years to get there, so won't be closed immediately. Goff says NZ can't rely on commodities and tourism - touts R&D policy.
8:27: Debate over now. TV One text poll gives Key 61% and Goff 39%. Seems to be a bit of debate about Goff's tactic to address Key directly.
Your view?
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