Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says electoral laws in New Zealand set a high test for meddling.
Asked on Morning Report if she was concerned about Chinese influence in New Zealand and Australian politics, she said she worries "about all levels of foreign influence."
However, she pointed to electoral laws which require that party donations over $1,500 be disclosed. Ms Ardern said the amount parties can spend in a campaign is at a much lower bar than Australian counterparts.
The government plans to reveal new legislation on child poverty when the half year economic and fiscal update is released on Thursday.
While the PM would not reveal the figures today, she said they will set a goal of lifting children out of poverty at a more ambitious target than the previous government target of 50,000.
Ms Ardern said she hoped for cross-party support to get a legislation, which would set a standard for the measure of poverty, through parliament.
"There's no reason why any party wouldn't support legislation like this. There shouldn't be politics in poverty," she told Morning Report.
The latest RNZ Poll of Polls showed the gap between the major parties had narrowed slightly.
National is still the most popular single party, but Labour and the Greens combined are ahead of National.
Ms Ardern said it will take time for voters' confidence to build in the new government.
