Election 2026 live: New poll sees National crash ahead as Hipkins, Luxon prepare for first debate

Weekly interview with opposition leader, Chris HipkinsRNZ's latest political poll - the first during the election campaign - is out, hours before the two major party leaders face off in TVNZ's debate.National's campaign chair Simeon Brown is acknowledging little more than that the election will be a tight one off the back of its crushing poll result.On Tuesday evening, Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins will have the first opportunity in TVNZ's leader debate to go head-to-head on the issues that matter most to New Zealanders.Follow the latest with RNZ's live coverage above.