KEY POINTS:
3.46pm: Push for country of origin labelling
The Green Party has announced it will work with its counterparts in Australia to revamp food labelling laws on both sides of the Tasman. The announcement comes as Australian Green MP, Senator Bob Brown, visits Auckland. He says it is time food labelling was more effective and truthful.
Senator Brown says New Zealand does not have mandatory country of original labelling. He says he cannot understand why governments would oppose something as basic as consumers' right to know where their food comes from.
3.00pm: 'That other election'
The focus of the newsroom's attention is switching as the afternoon progresses from our own Election '08 to "that other election" today.
At this point in time, Obama is taking an early lead over McCain, but of course it's still far far too early to call.
1.50pm: Greens with your lunch
The Greens are making some noise to grab the attention of the lunchtime crowd in Auckland's CBD.
Film actor Rawiri Paratene and others from among their Party ranks are staging a presentation in Freyberg Square, explaining their views on issues such as the environment, carbon trading and sustainability.
1.25pm: Radio daze
John Key is appearing as a guest on the afternoon talk show on Radio Live today. The show's host Willie Jackson absolutely roasted ACT's Sir Roger Douglas when he was a guest yesterday, but Jackson and fellow presenter John Tamihere are likely to go a bit easier on the National leader today - although the pair's sympathies are unashamedly left-wing.
First up, Key gets quizzed about 'the tape' (see earlier story about the secretly-recorded Bill English tape). Accused of being the leader of a party of warmongers, Key delicately sidesteps the question. Tougher questions, however, are obviously on the way ...
12.20pm: Nats make broadband commmitment to schools
National leader John Key has promised to spend at least $150 million over the next three years to gear schools up for the arrival of ultra-fast fibre broadband.
National has promised $1.5 billion to roll out a fibre optic network throughout most of New Zealand.
Key today said the $150m he was promising today would go towards ensuring schools had the technology to make the most of faster broadband.
Key made the announcement today at decile one Otara middle school, Clover Park.
11.45am: Stranger than fiction
ACT leader Rodney Hide's yellow jacket is again in the news, reports the Herald's Patrick Gower from out on the campaign trail. The story is here.
11.40am: Voters get enrolment hurry-up
Voters are being reminded not to leave enrolling until polling day.
Almost 95 percent of the population is registered to date, which is one of the highest rates amongst the OECD countries, but some 170,000 eligible voters have not yet signed up. Half of those who have not enrolled are first time voters.
Murray Wicks from the Electoral Enrolment Centre says the paperwork needs to be received by the centre by Friday afternoon. Forms can be completed at a Post Shop or downloaded from the centre's website.
11.20am: Leaders readying for third and final TV battle
The two main party leaders are campaigning in Auckland today, in the build-up to tonight's final Leaders' debate on TV1.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has been visiting a rest home in Pt Chevalier this morning, while her adversary on Saturday, National's John Key, is currently popping in to meet the kids at Clover Park Middle school, a lower-decile school in Otara.
11.15am: Hide accused of doing National's dirty work
Winston Peters says Rodney Hide's complaint to police over New Zealand First's donation returns was a malicious and vicious attack.
Peters says the complaint was designed to tie up New Zealand First and cost it any chance of raising money. He says it was a waste of money and hundreds of hours of police time that could have been better spent chasing real criminals.
"Rodney Hide did the National Party's dirty work and for this he's being rewarded with a cabinet position in a National Government - not based on ability or integrity - but on malicious allegations and untruth", Peters told Newstalk ZB.
10.30am: Dunne ready for 'next level'
United Future leader Peter Dunne says it's time for his party to "go to the next level" after pledging their support to National.
"We want to do more in the area of tax reform, more in the area of utilising public-private partnerships in health to get people surgery quicker. These are things we would just not be able to achieve working under a Labour government."
He says United Future believes it will have a much better chance advancing its policies under a National-led administration.
8.50am: Hide bemused by Peters ruling
Act leader Rodney Hide is amazed that his complaint against New Zealand First has been thrown out by police investigating the matter.
Police have found New Zealand First committed no offence by failing to declare an $80,000 donation funnelled to the party from the Spencer Trust last year.
Hide still maintains NZ First were in breach of the act by receiving large sums of money which were not declared.
The Act leader said he used to sweat over filling out donation return forms, but will not be so concerned next time in light of this case.
- NZHERALD STAFF, with NZPA and NEWSTALK ZB
