Brigitte Morten: political commentator on Labour and National launching their election campaigns ahead of November 7
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What sparked the official start of the 2026 election campaign in Auckland?
So to the election of twenty six, uh what you thought had been going on for weeks only actually kicked off officially yesterday. Labour and the Nets both in Auckland. Labor a taxpayer funded free beyond the student debt. Of course the Nets rolled out the old pledge card. Political commentator Bridget Morton's back with us. Bridget, morning to you. Good morning. Out of ten for each ten being perfection.
Uh, I'd probably give them about the same, about eight each. I think they both had high energy, they delivered what the audience wanted, uh, and they rallied the troops.
Why did Chris Hipkins appear ‘uncomfortable’ and what are the ‘smelling salts’ comments about?
And what about the smelling salts for Hipkins? What happened there? Sorry, what do you mean? The smelling salts. He came out swearing, snarling, tossing red meat all over the place. Someone given giving him a bit of something.
Well, I think without a doubt that he's been told very clearly that he has not been high energy, that he has not brought the energy to the campaign. And, you know, you're already seeing those reports and those opinions coming through the fact that it looks like he doesn't want to be there and 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 um, you know, being told to him and I think, you know, he really uh tried to deliver on that.
Does he have an authenticity problem though, because that's not him and we know it.
Does Chris Hipkins have an authenticity problem and why does it matter to voters?
Yeah, absolutely. And I think more and more people are looking for the authenticity and in politics. I think, you know, that was the rallying high to the troops, you know, it was the Labour loyalty sitting in front of him that really, you know, spoke to them 'cause that's the energy they want reflected back at them. But I think for most voters they actually just want to know what, you know, their politicians are actually like and they know that that's not the true Hipkins.
No indeed. The policy, do you think it works for them or not?
No, I don't think it does. It smells so much of two thousand seventeen. We're back to fees free, you know, a big sort of money splash, then trying to get that youth vote. They know, you know, for instance, I think it's about fifty seven percent of eighteen to twenty five year olds um are only enrolled.
How effective are Labour’s youth‑focused policies like free tuition in winning the 18‑25 vote?
So, you know, Labors to get across the line, they need more young people enrolled. They need the people to then turn out to vote and then for vote for them. And this is the closest they can kind of get to actually trying to tell them Actually this is something we can deliver. But most people that look at that and go, Well, actually this is going to make um nil if a tiny bit of difference to my household budget next week.
Right, the other side of town. The the fact we should point out the fact both were in La Auckland tells you the value of Auckland, doesn't it?
Oh, absolutely. I think that's where the um the election we won and lost.
Why is Auckland such a pivotal battleground for both Labour and National?
So many seats in play up in Auckland, but also just a huge center of the party vote just by population.
Indeed, does Luxon have to do anything or does no more taxes or no taxes or they've got nine taxes and repeat, repeat, repeat get 'em across the line?
Well, I think that's a key part of what they're delivering, to showing that that is their cost of living message, that they will not, you know, as a government increase the cost of living. And I think that's the key contrast you've got with the other side. Ultimately though, they are the government and they have to to demonstrate that they have delivered and will continue to deliver. That's why you saw that pledge card, you know, reiterating some of those key policies, the things that will, you know, move the dials and, you know, compulsory key we saver, their education results, all of that. Yeah, kind of stuff.
How much do you reckon's actually at play? In other words, the genuinely undecided and their ability to shift in one direction or another?
Well, I mean the polls are all over the place, but they are very tight at the moment.
What do the latest polls reveal about undecided voters and the potential swing before November 7?
So you've got a huge number of people that have turned away, as supposedly from the major parties, the so called purple vote.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What sparked the official start of the 2026 election campaign in Auckland?
0:00–0:26
2
Why did Chris Hipkins appear ‘uncomfortable’ and what are the ‘smelling salts’ comments about?
0:26–1:07
3
Does Chris Hipkins have an authenticity problem and why does it matter to voters?
1:07–1:46
4
How effective are Labour’s youth‑focused policies like free tuition in winning the 18‑25 vote?
1:46–2:15
5
Why is Auckland such a pivotal battleground for both Labour and National?
2:15–3:09
6
What do the latest polls reveal about undecided voters and the potential swing before November 7?
3:09–3:55
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The Mike Hosking Breakfast
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