Leaders spar as NZ election remains too close to call

Key points

• New Zealand's two major parties, National and Labour, are both polling at 28 per cent, their lowest combined level since the 1930s. Prime minister Chris Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins both underwhelmed in a leaders debate hosted by the NZ Herald.
• Panellists declared the debate a tight draw, while National claimed victory based on a reader poll. Luxon drew criticism after wrongly claiming he had raised the minimum wage by inflation each year.
• Newcomer Qiulae Wong's Opportunity party may hold the balance of power after the November 7 election.