Election 2023: Who won Newshub leaders’ debate? The verdicts on Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon
- 7 months ago
#election #2023 #who #won
IDEA Claire Trevett – Herald political editor "I know you're excited and I know you came here to have a bit of a fight," Nationals leader Christopher Luxon said at one point early in the debate, and he was right. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Labor leader Chris Hipkins has certainly improved the most after a flat performance in the previous 1News debate. This time he came prepared. He delivered major blow Luxon with vile quote allegedly from NZ First candidate, putting him in difficult position and forcing him to defend his desire work with NZ First. But Hipkins was relentless in publicizing uncertainty about National's cut schedule and costs, and in exposing Luxon for dodging questions. Luxon also performed well and was a little more relaxed; at one point his offer to hug Hipkins had vague echoes of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon saying "I love you, Mr Lange" in the 1984 election debate. But debate served once again highlight all questions Luxon doesn't want answer, from costs of tax package everything do with Winston Peters. Hipkins also tried to dodge some questions His soliloquy about the price a $1 change of orange was one the funniest moments, and Luxon later joked, "I'm still thinking about his orange." But overall Hipkins' experience and talent showed more in this debate. When it came down to it – from gangs to climate change – Luxon was deeply National and Hipkins was deeply Labor. Hipkins acquitted himself strongly on the gangs issue after Luxon said he expected the police to come in and break up a gang tangle. But it also gave Luxon big line of the night when he said gangs here didn't need to form their own party, they just voted Labor. Chris Hipkins was in a combative mood during the televised leaders' second debate. Photo Dean Purcell Shayne Currie – NZME editor at large Some spark, energy and zingers. While the two Chrises, Hipkins and Luxon, insisted they had never taken MDMA in their lives, it was clear someone had injected something into their Coke Zeros ahead of Wednesday night's altercation. Maybe it was just sugar that one of them wanted to ban from school drinks. "I have to say, this is already 1000 times better than the other debate," The Traitors NZ winner Sam Smith said during the first commercial break. The 200 or so people in the Q Theater strongly agreed. Where has this Chris Hipkins been for the last six weeks? He managed to transform his debate and television presence in eight days; uncompromising, relentless and at various stages funny. Luxon himself was no slouch; perhaps he was stepping up where he needed to be and outshining Hipkins in critical areas like health. It was a bit disorganized in other areas, especially the gangs. He had a few cracking one-liners himself. "This is turning into The Chase," the National Party leader said at one stage. "Better than The Chase!" said Newshub moderator Paddy Gower. Many will say, of course, that Gower won the debate. Initi
IDEA Claire Trevett – Herald political editor "I know you're excited and I know you came here to have a bit of a fight," Nationals leader Christopher Luxon said at one point early in the debate, and he was right. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Labor leader Chris Hipkins has certainly improved the most after a flat performance in the previous 1News debate. This time he came prepared. He delivered major blow Luxon with vile quote allegedly from NZ First candidate, putting him in difficult position and forcing him to defend his desire work with NZ First. But Hipkins was relentless in publicizing uncertainty about National's cut schedule and costs, and in exposing Luxon for dodging questions. Luxon also performed well and was a little more relaxed; at one point his offer to hug Hipkins had vague echoes of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon saying "I love you, Mr Lange" in the 1984 election debate. But debate served once again highlight all questions Luxon doesn't want answer, from costs of tax package everything do with Winston Peters. Hipkins also tried to dodge some questions His soliloquy about the price a $1 change of orange was one the funniest moments, and Luxon later joked, "I'm still thinking about his orange." But overall Hipkins' experience and talent showed more in this debate. When it came down to it – from gangs to climate change – Luxon was deeply National and Hipkins was deeply Labor. Hipkins acquitted himself strongly on the gangs issue after Luxon said he expected the police to come in and break up a gang tangle. But it also gave Luxon big line of the night when he said gangs here didn't need to form their own party, they just voted Labor. Chris Hipkins was in a combative mood during the televised leaders' second debate. Photo Dean Purcell Shayne Currie – NZME editor at large Some spark, energy and zingers. While the two Chrises, Hipkins and Luxon, insisted they had never taken MDMA in their lives, it was clear someone had injected something into their Coke Zeros ahead of Wednesday night's altercation. Maybe it was just sugar that one of them wanted to ban from school drinks. "I have to say, this is already 1000 times better than the other debate," The Traitors NZ winner Sam Smith said during the first commercial break. The 200 or so people in the Q Theater strongly agreed. Where has this Chris Hipkins been for the last six weeks? He managed to transform his debate and television presence in eight days; uncompromising, relentless and at various stages funny. Luxon himself was no slouch; perhaps he was stepping up where he needed to be and outshining Hipkins in critical areas like health. It was a bit disorganized in other areas, especially the gangs. He had a few cracking one-liners himself. "This is turning into The Chase," the National Party leader said at one stage. "Better than The Chase!" said Newshub moderator Paddy Gower. Many will say, of course, that Gower won the debate. Initi