New Labour leader Jacinda Ardern during her press conference after their caucus vote at Parliament.
The election campaign was not without its peaks and troughs, beginning with the sudden resignation of the leader of the Opposition just seven weeks out from the election, followed by various scandals and embarrassments for other parties.
August 1: Jacinda becomes leader
It started with Andrew Little publicly conceding thepolls weren't looking good for Labour, transformed into his resignation, and within days "Jacindamania" was coined.
Shock over Little's unexpected resignation was superseded by support for new leader Jacinda Ardern, who weeks out from the election promised to run "the campaign of our lives", before forthrightly tackling questions of when she'd have babies.
Floods of red-clad supporters screamed wherever she went, farmers picketed and drinking games derived from her favourite debate phrase "let me be clear" were born. Importantly for Labour, the party surged in the polls.
Greens co-leader Metiria Turei, announcing she will stand down as leader immediately and retire from politics at the election, during a press conference at Parliament, Wellington. 09 August, 2017. Ne
August 9: Metiria resigns
After admitting a 20 year-old benefit fraud, the Greens' Metiria Turei had a sympathetic ear from some.
However the subsequent "party implosion" saw the resignation of two senior Green MPs, the launch of a criminal investigation by the Ministry of Social Development, and eventually Turei's resignation as co-leader.
Although she didn't regret "a minute" of her admission, Turei stood down, blaming the "unbearable" scrutiny of her family, and the Greens began sliding down in the polls.
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. 10 September 2017. New Zealand Herald photograph by Nick Reed. NZH 11Sep17 - NAG 13Sep17 - STORY - PAGE 3 NAG 15Sep17 - NAG 19Sep17 -
August 27: Winston's superannuation
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters admitted his pension had been overpaid since 2010, due to a mistake relating to his marital status.
Peters refused to confirm the exact amount he had to pay back overnight and fingered National as the story's leak. An investigation into where the information came from was launched, with Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development clearing its staff.
Peters called for the resignation of two Government ministers, an experienced Beehive staffer and a commissioner to resign over leaks about his pension overpayment. None have acquiesced.
September 4: The $11.7b hole
The infamous $11 billion hole was declared by Finance Minister Steven Joyce, after a night on the calculator analysing Labour's fiscal plan. He surmised Labour hadn't budgeted for each year of governance and their miscalculation would push the country into debt.
Labour's finance spokesman, Grant Robertson, labelled Joyce's claims "desperate", and the difference between "committed expenditure" and "operating allowance" was debated. Joyce insisted a hole existed. Robertson denied it. Experts were divided on the answer.
September 14: Labour's tax backdown
Following a public wave of concern about taxes Labour planned to implement, including water, tourist and fuel tax, and the much talked about capital gains tax, the party did an about-turn, saying it would legislate for new taxes immediately, but wouldn't implement them until 2021. This led to criticism from National who said Labour was "vague" on tax.
