As the fallout from Dirty Politics swirled furiously around the political landscape, party leaders continued on the campaign trail around Auckland.

In the latest in this Herald election series, we look at the main parties' policies on tax and the economy - and what it could mean for you.

Nation, I'm bored. And not just because I watched this week's leaders' debate, but mainly for that reason.

When the Wallabies drew with the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney, it was widely considered almost as good as a win.

What a difference one debate makes. An entirely new David Cunliffe emerged on the campaign trail yesterday - one with a spring in his step and energy that was all but absent earlier.

Auckland's home affordability headache won't be solved in a hurry but both National and Labour now have quick fixes for desperate home buyers.

More than 14,000 Herald Online readers have had their say on tonight’s leaders debate - clicking on our “buzzdial” more than 2.6 million times.

David Cunliffe is backing the party's choice of a couple used as a case study for Labour's housing policy, after the pair conceded they weren't actually looking to buy.

Today is D-Day for David Cunliffe. Debate Day. The Labour leader must seize the opportunity provided by going head to head with the Prime Minister.

In the latest Herald series on election policies, we look at whether parties are paying attention to voter's worries about land sales to overseas buyers.

The Labour Party has broken new ground in election campaigns by announcing cuts to spending that it had not announced.

It started well enough, but John Key left Greymouth with a heartfelt plea from the widow of one of the 29 dead Pike River miners ringing in his ears.

Voters will know where Labour stands on buying back partially-sold power companies before the election, leader David Cunliffe says.

Bill English somehow neglected to mention New Zealand First in his press statement yesterday decrying the "big spending" promises made by Labour, the Greens and Internet Mana.

Labour and the Greens both want an immediate start to Auckland's underground railway, but are divided over whether to complete the $2 billion-plus Waikato Expressway.

National has just announced $100 million over four years for new urban cycleways, as Labour and the Greens promise to eclipse that investment.

If Labour had announced a policy to hand out free money to house buyers, it would be accused of being fiscally stupid and economically ignorant.

David Cunliffe would like to remain Labour leader and take the party into the 2017 election, even if the party loses at the September 20 election.

Labour has gone for the heartstrings in TV ads to be aired today while National has taken a more light-hearted approach as the on-screen political campaign begins.

In health, the election has become a bidding war focused on the new centre ground of free doctor visits.

National has boosted its Porkometer tally by almost $600 million in little more than a week with plans to spend up on schools, hospices and cycleways.

If this election was a boxing match, the referee would have stopped the fight months back given the non-stop punishment and eight counts David Cunliffe's taken.

Voters comparing social policies at this election have a clear choice: "Unrelenting focus on work" with National, or a softer line if Labour wins.

Internet mogul Kim Dotcom has denied another accusation by Cameron Slater that he was responsible for hacking Slater's blog website earlier this year.

The Labour Party has called on Prime Minister John Key to publicly name the National staff member the party admitted infiltrated Labour's website server in 2011.

Labour has released documents it says proves its website was hacked by people working for the National Party.

Senior Labour MP Phil Goff visited a police station in the wake of a murder to ask after a woman who was later charged with the alleged crime.