3:46pm: Amelia Romanos of APNZ writes that while Phil Goff was campaigning up north, Northland provincial president Matt Long told him he was "extremely disappointed'' in Labour's plan to scrap the Puhoi to Wellsford freight freeway.
"It's vital for my community that we are not isolated from our suppliers and our markets,'' he said. "Is it your policy to keep the north impoverished?''
3:42pm: The Dominion Post reports "The ACT Party is facing an election wipeout - with a new poll showing Epsom voters have been turned off by last week's tea party."
A Fairfax Media-Research Media International mini-poll of 200 eligible Epsom voters showed National's Paul Goldsmith easily winning the seat on 45.5 per cent.
3:39pm: Labour has released a list of the "Ten Labour policies you might have missed".
3:36pm: If you want to check out your local electorate, have a look at the NZ Herald Electorate Map.
3:32pm: United Future leader Peter Dunne tweets @PeterDunneMP
"Chance meeting at J'Ville Mall with the owners of the new soon-to-open Churton Park New World Supermarket. 130 new jobs created, locally."
3:29pm: NZ Herald political reporters Derek Cheng and Paul Harper write that four media outlets, including Radio New Zealand and TVNZ, are to be searched for any material they might have in their possession that relates to the "teapot" tapes.
3:19pm: Phil Goff tweets @phil_goff
"At the Salvation Army foodbank in Manukau. They are helping 800 people a month now." With pic.
3:04pm: The Dominion Post reports "In a surprise result after last night's Taranaki Daily News candidate debate, an exit poll of those attending gave Labour's Andrew Little a resounding thumbs-up for his performance."
2:55pm: United Future leader Peter Dunne has made a request. @PeterDunneMP
"Let's move on from tea-time recordings and talk about some real issues, shall we? Superannuation, fiscal policy, jobs - election coming up.."
It's 2:50pm and time again for a quick summary of the big stories this afternoon:
- NZ First leader Winston Peters announced in invercargill today what he believes to be the contents of the "teapot tape."
- National have released the second part of their health policy which will focus on immunisations for children.
- RNZ, TVNZ and TV3 have been asked to give information to the police about the teapot tapes while a fourth media organisation has not yet been identified.
2:44pm: National party spokeswoman Judith Collins has written a statement claiming the law and order gains made through a National government would unravel if Labour comes to power.
"Over the past three years, terrific progress has been made improving the safety of our communities," Ms Collins said.
"Under Labour, these gains would start to unravel very quickly and the justice system would swing back in favour of criminals, rather than victims."
2:39pm: Labour campaign spokesperson Grant Robertson has released a statement saying "Police have more important things to do than waste time serving media outlets with search warrants for information on last week's cup of tea media stunt."
2:36pm: A fun experiment courtesy of YouTube user guavablue: STATE HIGHWAY TWO Election Poll!
They say: The only election poll that counts prior to the General Election 2011 for New Zealand - this is the STATE HIGHWAY TWO Election Poll! The number of billboards per party were counted on State HIghway 2 between Katikati and Auckland, and from that we were able to determine the percentage of seats that each party will have in parliament.
2:32pm: Radio NZ reports that Labour Party leader Phil Goff has defended his party's proposal to bring agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from farmed livestock into the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2013.
"The emissions trading scheme will protect us against our trading partners using environmental concerns to block our products."
2:30pm: James Murray retweets regarding Winston Peters announcement. @3NewsEditor
"RT @h_yd_n That was like a stripper only taking off their jacket." #teapottapes #votenz
2:25pm: John Key tweets part of National's health care policy. @johnkeypm
"Under National, children under the age of six will get free after-hours visits to GPs." #VoteNZ
2:22pm: NZ Herald columnist David Farrar tweets @dpfdpf
"Yawn Winston has played the media for fools. Not one single direct quote. Just his interpretation." #teapottapes
2:00pm: Winston Peters has spoken out in Invercargill about what he believes to be in the "tea tape".
He said the eight-minute and 26-second conversation has Key and Banks discussing a range of issues, including Act's future. It also talks about New Zealand First's electoral chances and the percentage of the vote the National Party would secure.
Mr Peters said "Now the New Zealand public can now see what a pair Key and Banks really are: self-important - manipulative - insulting and dismissive of a large number of New Zealanders."
Until now John Key has refused to release the tape and has called its contents "bland".
1:48pm: Phil Goff is on Radio Live now talking about stopping asset sales and Labour policy.
1:44pm: National has accused Labour of being "in denial on the economy".
National party campaign chair Steven Joyce has said "With Labour's latest set of half-truths and denials of economic reality, they are now stepping up on a daily basis to confirm they have learnt nothing in Opposition and are completely unready to govern."
1:41pm: Derek Cheng tweets: @dchengnzh
"Phil Heatley's head is hard enough already, apparently, sans hard-hat," #votenz. With pic.
1:39pm: On Radio NZ news re the police investigation, "When asked whether his complaint was a good use of police time, Mr Key said National had lowered the crime rate across the country so police had a little bit of spare time."
1:35pm: NZ Herald political reporter Derek Cheng reports from Whangarei.
@dchengnzh
"John Key donning hi vis and hardhat again at Busca in Whangarei," #votenz. With pic.
1:30pm: Radio NZ reported on their website that the police are working independently in their search for "teapot tape" records, according to National leader John Key.
RNZ, TVNZ and TV3 have been asked to give information to the police while a fourth media organisation has not yet been identified.
1:22pm: Reporter Adam Bennett writes about the NZ Herald Mood of the Boardroom debate this morning between David Cunliffe and Bill English. In it Cunliffe promised a grand vision of more active government - business partnership while English said National would continue its "boring but vital'' work to improve economic competitiveness.
1:16pm: National have released the second part of their health policy today, with a focus on immunisations.
John Key has said "Immunising babies sets them up for a healthier childhood, helping their immune systems become more responsive." The full policy is available on the National party website.
12:58pm: Act Party tweet from Don Brash @actparty
"Our children deserve better than 'McEducation' says Don Brash."
12:40pm: Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Felix Marwick tweets: @felixmarwick
"Fed Farmers quiz goff on ETS and Holiday Highway plan." #decision2011
12:22pm: Tweet from the National campaign: @johnkeypm
"Under National, by the end of 2014, 95% of 8-month-olds will have had their first lot of vaccinations." #VoteNZ
12:20pm: According to iPredict's latest polls, National has dropped 1.5% overnight. If they want to govern they still need the support of at least one of Act, the Greens or the Maori party.
12:12pm: Alexia Russell of Newstalk ZB reports "MMP was the winner in last night's TV minor leaders' debate according to former Alliance MP Sandra Lee-Vercoe
"I think it was the best debate so far by far, six seasoned politicians, it could've easily been a shambles," she told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking."
12:09pm: Newstalk ZB has reported that Labour has proposed any mergers of local government should be subject to referendums. This is part of the party's local government policy for the election.
11:59am: NZ Herald politics and business commentator Fran O'Sullivan is on NZ Herald live chat now.
11:43am: Mana Party member John Minto says in a press release he is outraged by the pay increases offered to MPS today.
"While working New Zealanders are struggling to get any increase in pay this year our MPs are set to receive an extra $7000pa."
11:35am: NZ Herald deputy political editor Claire Trevett has given her summary of the winners and the losers of the minor party leaders debate last night.
The player with the biggest impact? Winston Peters, because "the authoritative Winston Peters of old was back."
It's 11:29am and the biggest stories of the day so far are:
- Mana Leader Hone Harawira was a "surprise stand out" in the minor party leaders debate on TV One last night.
- National have released more of their health policy in Whangarei today.
- Radio NZ have been contacted by police to hand over "tea-tape" material and they have refused.
11:27am: NZ Herald political reporters Derek Cheng and Paul Harper write that Radio New Zealand has been told by police to hand over any unpublished news material it has relating to the tea pot tapes.
11:26am: Tweet from Derek Cheng. @dchengnzh
"John Key and babies. Another day on the campaign trail," #votenz. With pic.
11:21am: 3News editor James Murray tweets @3NewsEditor
"RT @DavidSlack Police have now listened to 4000 hours of seized tapes of Morning Report, but found no sign of John Key's voice." #votenz
11:14am: Lloyd Burr tweets @LloydBurr
"Goff on irrigation tax: you use it for your land and your productivity and I will tax it and make no apologies for that." #votenz
11:10am: John Key is doing origami at a Plunkett centre while in Whangarei on the National campaign trail. Check out the pic here.
11:08am: Derek Cheng tweets part of National's new health policy
@dchengnzh
"National also commits $12m. For rheumatic fever campaign," #votenz.
11:04am: NZ Herald political reporter Derek Cheng tweets at National's campaign in Whangarei @dchengnzh
"National wants 95 pc of all 8 month children fully immunised by end of 2014" #votenz
10:58am: 3News reporter Lloyd Burr tweets again: @LloydBurr
"Northland farmer a bit pissed off that Goff is scrapping the holiday highway." #votenz
10:51am: NZ Herald political editor Audrey Young writes that Act leader Don Brash's performance on the debate last night showed him up to be fairly "rusty".
She writes he "has yet to master the art of making Act economic policy sound relevant to ordinary people, as ousted leader Rodney Hide did effortlessly."
10:50am: Lloyd Burr tweets again: @LloydBurr
"I had 2 hours freetime on Saturday so I docked the lambs" - small talk from Goff at Fed Farmers #votenz. With pic.
10:48am: 3News reporter Lloyd Burr tweets: @LloydBurr
"Goff arrives at Fed Farmers Council meeting in Wellington," #votenz. With pic.
10:46am: NZ Herald political reporter Derek Cheng is out on National's campaign trail. He tweets today @dchengnzh
"Key in whangarei for a health announcement today" #votenz
10:41am: The Green party are claiming Trans-Pacific trade agreements will put organisations like ZESPRI at risk for "no clear advantage".
Green co-leader Dr Russell Norman has said in a press release that "John Key needs to assure New Zealanders before the election that single seller entities like ZESPRI will be protected."
10:37am: In a press release: "Mana Social Wellbeing spokesperson Sue Bradford says the newly released Labour Party youth policy is a perfect example of how fossilised the old parties have become."
Bradford says that her party would support giving 16 and 17 year olds a vote, which will show them they will be taken seriously by the Government.
10:29am: Mana Party member Sue Bradford tweets:
@suebr
"Just arrived in Kaitaia - beautiful day here; for Tiaho Trust hui 'political engagement = disability empowerment', I'm speaking after 12.30."
10:25am: NZ Herald chief political commentator John Armstrong writes that Hone Harawira was the surprise stand out in last night's minor leaders debate. He says Hone was "the one leader who sounded both invigorated and passionate - rather than mouthing safe answers by rote."
10:22am: The Dominion Post reports "The Labour Party is promising to improve civic education in schools and encourage young Kiwis to vote."
10:20am: Keith Ng of Public Address tweets: @keith_ng
"I'd be okay with Winston to return on the back of Nats trying to save ACT. Purely for the irony."
10:17am: New youth forensic mental health services announced in a press release:
"Forensic mental health services are being boosted by $33 million to improve early intervention and treatment services for youth offenders, Associate Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman announced today. "
10:12am: Hone Harawira and his Mana party are having a busy morning.
In a press release, Harawira has called for the government to release all details of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) which US president Barack Obama announced there had been preliminary agreement on.
10:08am: Hone Harawira has accused Waihoroi Shortland and the Maori party of selling out in a press release because they don't support compulsory Te Reo for students. Instead the Maori party believe the language should be compulsorily available.
10:02am: At 11:45am today, NZ Herald business and political commentator Fran O'Sullivan will be taking questions in a live chat on what was discussed at this morning's Mood of the Boardroom debate between Bill English and David Cunliffe. She will also give her thoughts on the upcoming election.
9:59am: The Labour party have released a press release listing "National's growing list of broken promises." Another top ten list, Labour? Not very original.
9:56am: Labour leader Phil Goff tweets from his campaign trail. @phil_goff
"Speaking to the Police Association about intervening to deal with the causes of crime." With pic.
9:43am: The Otago Daily Times reported that a complaint about National sign holders on the side of the road in Dunedin was politically motivated as the complainent was on foot. A local has complained that the National supporters are a driving hazard as they are very distracting.
9:39am: The Green party has launched an oil spill protection plan. In it, the Greens say they want to introduce a moratorium on deep sea oil drilling and exploration and implement higher standards for coastal shipping. For the full policy go here.
9:36am: National will announce the second part to their health policy today, according to John Key's latest tweet.
9:26am: Scoop writer Lyndon Hood tweets in response to National's latest press release. @lyndonhood
"@publicaddress I love how he puts 'facts' in scare-quotes even when he's talking about his own."
9:22am: The National party has released some "facts" about Labour. "Labour's latest attempt to smear the Government's economic record is short on facts, long on revisionist history, and promises absolutely nothing," says National Party Campaign Chair Steven Joyce.
9:17am: The Mana party leader Hone Harawira has released the "Top 10 crimes of the Millenium" to 3news.
He has stated that Labour and National "are both equally guilty" of the current state of the country. After a list of crimes, he ends with "And the winner is ... Labour and National ... because they have been able to convince the country to vote for either the devils in blue or the devils in red, every 3 years."
9:04am: Radio NZ reports that candidates standing in the Hauraki-Waikato electorate say boosting the number of jobs and child welfare are their top priorities.
Labour's Nanaia Mahuta has held the Hauraki-Waikato seat since it was formed three years ago. The Maori party's Tau Bruce Mataki is also bidding for the electorate vote.
9:03am: 3News reports "MPs have been given a pay rise of $7000 each - plus extra allowances and a one-off payment of $5000 to compensate for the axed international travel subsidy, all backdated to July 1."
8:58am: To check out the live debate between Bill English and David Cunliffe in the NZ Herald "Mood of the Boardroom election survey," click here.
8:56am: Act deputy leader John Boscawen has told NZ Herald political reporter Derek Cheng he would be delighted if he won the Tamaki seat, and would postpone his retirement and not force a byelection.
8:55am: TVNZ will release the results of the third ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll today, with analysis of the results by political editor Guyon Espiner at 6 tonight.
8:54am: Newstalk ZB reports Don Brash wants to be in politics well beyond the coming election. He has said that if he does get elected this term he will probably stand again in three years.
8:46am: The protest that interrupted the Labour party campaign in Kawerau yesterday was "music to Phil Goff's ears", according to an article by NZ Herald political reporterClaire Trevett.
8:41am: Last night the leaders of the minor parties had their one and only opportunity to engage in live debate with each other on TVNZ's multi party leaders debate. To watch a repeat of the debate see here.
8:37am: The Mana Party will be taking a stand against planned Housing New Zealand relocations today, according to Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Felix Marwick.
8:36am: Newstalk ZB reports United Future leader Peter Dunne wants independent scrutiny applied to policy promises made by parties at election time. He says at the moment it's all about who is most persuasive.
8:32am: NZ Herald reporter Simon Collins writes again. "Labour's justice spokesman, Charles Chauvel, wants to eliminate jail sentences of less than six months because they are of 'zero utility'."
8:28am: NZ Herald reporter Simon Collins writes that the main political parties offer a clear choice in regards to welfare this election. One party offers more money for welfare, and the other offers less.
Massey University professor Mike O'Brien said "It's a clearer differentiation than we've had for a very long time."
8:22am: NZ Herald reporter Martin Johnston reports "Food Minister Kate Wilkinson has angered the Greens by not revealing her stand on recommendations relating to traffic-light food labels." The Greens have labelled this silence as 'despicable.'"
8:17am: Mana Party leader Hone Harawira will be on Radio Live from 12pm until 1pm today. Phil Goff will appear at 1:30.
8:09am: NZ Herald reporter Amelia Wade writes that when John Key signed a $10 bank note for Cafe Romeo's Romeo Jovanoic yesterday, he broke the law as it is illegal to deface bank notes in NZ.
8:06am: Radio NZ's Morning Report states the National Party president was booked to appear on the programme, but this time has cancelled at the last minute. Act leader Don Brash has appeared instead.
It's 8:00am, welcome back to our live updates for the election. We will be bringing you the latest coverage throughout the day. f
