Everything that happened on the campaign trail on 7 October

National and Labour's finance spokespeople went head-to-head in a debate on RNZ, NZ First revealed its revamped party list, and major party leaders met voters as campaigning ramped up on 7 October.Willis v EdmondsThe day began with National's finance spokesperson Nicola Willis taking on Labour's Barbara Edmonds on RNZ's Morning Report.Willis said some households were better off than three years ago, and the country needed to stay on track to grow the economy, create jobs and lift incomes.Edmonds said Labour was offering a package of solutions to try to help New Zealanders with the cost of living.Where money was coming from to pay for election promises was up for debate - but both agreed addressing supermarket prices was a priority.Neither was keen to see house prices increase quickly. Edmonds said they had to be stable and Willis said she wanted to see moderate price rises over time with incomes rising more quickly.Both parties committed to renewable energy, including encouraging households to put solar power systems on their roofs.Labour's Barbara Edmonds (L) and National's Nicola Willis (R) with RNZ's John Cambell after the economic debate on Morning Report.RNZNational's huge plan for small businesses revealedFollowing the debate, the National Party unveiled a plan to support small businesses by cutting compliance costs.Leader Christopher Luxon visited Book Hero in Hobsonville to announce the plan, which includes a new 'tell government once' service, faster disputes processing, and a minimum support threshold for collective bargaining.Spokesperson Cameron Brewer said the plan was focused on practical changes that would give business owners their time back.National Party leader Christopher Luxon campaigning at Book Hero in Hobsonville, October 2026.RNZ / Calvin SamuelTe Pāti Māori electorate gamble might be paying offAs the morning progressed, new polls by Te Ao Māori News revealed Te Pāti Māori candidates Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke were well in the lead in their electorate battlefields.The party has urged supporters to give them their electorate votes, and give their party vote to other parties, in an effort to take advantage of MMP's overhang rules.The strategy is a divisive one.A few weeks ago, Waititi said the party's plan could see up to 13 Māori MPs get into power.However, Labour's Māori campaign chair Willie Jackson said the strategy threatened a backlash against the Māori seats that could lead to their abolition.Hana Maipi-Clarke and Rawiri Waititi announcing a kohanga reo and kura policy in Rotorua.RNZ / Rachel MooreVoting locations unveiledShortly before noon, the campaign took a big step forward, with more than 2300 voting places for the election confirmed."Our voting places are in locations people go in their daily lives including community halls, schools, shopping malls, places of worship, tertiary education providers and marae," chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne said.There are more than 220 Whare Pōti Māori voting places, including 67 bilingual (reo rua) voting places.Accessible services include 1679 fully accessible voting places, sign language interpreters at six locations and three voting places with quiet times.Locations can be found at vote.nz.Chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne.RNZ / Angus DreaverLabour targets big banksNext it was Labour's turn to make an announcement, with the party vowing to put the big banks in its sights to combat the rising cost of living.Labour vowed to make it easier for new banking and payment companies to compete with ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac.Leader Chris Hipkins said more competition would give customers more choice and force banks to offer better prices and services."Almost every Kiwi relies on a bank to get paid, pay the bills, buy a home or grow a business," he said.Under Labour's plan, smaller financial companies would face simpler rules if they wanted to offer services such as digital wallets, prepaid cards or payments.The big banks would also have to give smaller competitors fair access to important payment systems and banking information.Chris Hipkins at Sephora, Sylvia Park, October 2026.RNZ / Tu NatanahiraACT pushes to scrap donations tax benefit capNext it was ACT's turn to make a big announcement, with the party promising to scrap a cap on charitable donations being able to receive tax benefits.Leader David Seymour said the tax system should encourage charitable generosity rather than imposing an arbitrary ceiling on it."ACT's plan for New Zealand's first comprehensive cancer centre will also be achieved by partnering with New Zealand's leading philanthropists, families, businesses, charitable trusts, community organisations and successful Kiwis, we can build something extraordinary."If New Zealanders want to give $1 million, $10 million or more to cancer care, medical research or other causes, the tax system should encourage that generosity."Seymour said the party's fiscal plan would be unveiled on Sunday, promising it would "remove locks on New Zealand's potential" and "will get rid of the waste that prevents us from growing the economy".ACT leader David Seymour promises to scrap a cap on charitable donations being able to receive tax benefits.RNZ / Calvin SamuelNZ First reveals party listOne of the day's major announcements came from New Zealand First, which revealed a dramatically reshaped party list.It's given high placements to former MPs Alfred Ngaro, Michael Laws and Harete Hipango-Brownlie.Former FMA chair Craig Stobo and former All Blacks captain Taine Randell are also ranked high - beating out several current MPs including Jenny Marcroft, Andy Foster, David Wilson, and Jamie Arbuckle.New Zealand First leader Winston Peters campaigning at Albany Mall in Auckland on 6 October 2026.RNZ / Nick MonroThe Chrises meet their constituentsNational and Labour's leaders spent the afternoon getting some face time with potential voters, with National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins both visiting malls in Auckland.Luxon visited NorthWest mall, stopping to chat with anyone who wanted to do so.Children discussed what they liked at school, young adults discussed their jobs and those a bit older weighed in on marriage and how to make it work with National's leader.Hipkins made his way to Sylvia Park, where he was mobbed by a mix of supporters and shoppers.One young boy told Hipkins he watched the leaders' debate on TVNZ on Tuesday night and was impressed by Hipkins' performance.During his mall walkabout, Luxon made what appeared to be a surprise visit to a nail salon.Hipkins' walkabout took a glamorous turn too, with the Labour leader somehow being corralled into a Sephora beauty shop before he said goodbye to supporters.Chris Hipkins at Sephora, Sylvia Park, October 2026.RNZ / Tu Natanahira