Labour's Chris Hipkins is quietly confident ahead of election day
Labour leader Chris Hipkins is showing increased confidence in the final days of the New Zealand election campaign. He has focused on an intensive ground game and improved personal engagement to close the polling gap against the National party.
Why it matters
The outcome of this election will determine the next government of New Zealand and the direction of its national policy.
Political reporter Lillian Hanly has been with Labour leader Chris Hipkins in the final days of the campaign trail, where he's travelled between Auckland, Hamilton and the wider Wellington region.
Analysis: Chris Hipkins has been quietly confident in the final week of his second election campaign as Labour leader.
His demeanour and mood are a far cry from the Hipkins who seemed to sleepwalk through the 2023 election, before admitting defeat on election night.
At the outset of this campaign, he rejected any notion he hadn't been a great campaigner last time, but anyone who was watching saw selfies and chatting to people didn't come so naturally to him.
This time round, he says he was more prepared.
Anyone watching this time around can see that - he's having meaningful engagement with people, and the party's insisting the reception on the ground has changed too.
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