Bill English and Jacinda Ardern went head-to-head for the third time in the leadup to the general election. RNZ rounds up the best social media reactions to the Stuff leaders' debate.
Jacinda Ardern and Bill English Photo: Supplied / Stuff
Tonight's debate in Christchurch was moderated by The Press editor Joanna Norris and Stuff political editor Tracy Watkins, but neither managed to get much moderating done as Ms Ardern and Mr English sparred.
Look back on RNZ's live coverage with political reporter Craig McCulloch.
The debate began just as the results of the latest 1 News Colmar Brunton poll again put Labour in the lead heading into the 23 September election.
1 News Colmar Brunton poll (1/3): LAB 43% (NC), NAT 39% (-2), NZF 9% (+1), GRN 5% (NC), MAO 2% (+1), TOP 2% (+1), ACT 0.1% #nzpol
— Colmar Brunton (@ColmarBruntonNZ) September 7, 2017
A wry smile from @pmbillenglish upon hearing results of @ColmarBruntonNZ poll #decision17 pic.twitter.com/QfZcJYoC53
— Jane Patterson (@janepatterson) September 7, 2017
As she did in Monday's Newshub debate, Ms Ardern took turns throwing questions at Mr English - which in some cases led to him increasing his time addressing the lively audience:
Hot take: Jacinda's tactic of throwing questions to Bill is not working well for her. He's a pro and he's not going to flounder
— Ben Thomas (@BenThomasNZ) September 7, 2017
There was talk of Mr English running out of ideas. In response, he spoke about … roads:
First up, the economy. Bill denies they have run out of ideas. Talking about roads, does he even listen to himself?
— Lew (@LewSOS) September 7, 2017
There was also talk about the number of houses that had been built in Christchurch under National's watch, though some questioned whether this was because of a housing crisis, or something else:
Did English just say we need more earthquakes to get more houses?
— Laila Harré (@lailaharre) September 7, 2017
Ms Ardern mentioned how many years National has been in government - a lot:
how many years have national been in government? might have to google it...
— Henry Oliver (@Henry__Oliver) September 7, 2017
The people of Christchurch were not keen on hearing what the rest of New Zealand thinks about their city:
Christchurch is so much more than the effing cathedral, R.I.P. Bill English #decision17 #leadersdebate
— claudia (@claudiajardine) September 7, 2017
@pmbillenglish only cares about "the way the rest of NZ sees Chch," not about Chch community itself. #LeadersDebate
— A.R. (@democracy_plz) September 7, 2017
I guess Bill is relying on people outside Chch thinking the Cathedral is the big issue here. #leadersdebate
— Philip Matthews (@secondzeit) September 7, 2017
"This is how the rest of NZ sees Christchurch." Don't speak for me, Bill. Fix the homes first! #LeadersDebate
— Elizabeth S (@irihapeta) September 7, 2017
And they weren't keen on former Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee getting a mention either:
Bill mentions Gerry Brownlee crowd boos #LeadersDebate #nzpol
— WhakarauJK (@ArrestJK) September 7, 2017
Haha, audience does NOT like Gerry #LeadersDebate
— Andrea Aye. (@I_Am_Artemis) September 7, 2017
Boos from the audience at the mention of Brownlee's name. #LeadersDebate
— CherylBernstein (@CherylBernstein) September 7, 2017
There were conspiracy theories:
Why have the left wing techies at @NZStuffPolitics given @jacindaardern a louder mic than @pmbillenglish? #corruptmedia
— Matthew Hooton (@MatthewHootonNZ) September 7, 2017
Oh, and let's not forget the zingers. There were plenty of zingers:
English interjection as Ardern praises Clark govt surpluses: "Grant Robertson is no Michael Cullen'
— Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZ) September 7, 2017
That generation was let down the minute Nat. stopped contributing to the super fund - nice comeback from Jacinda on pension volte face
— Andrea Vance (@avancenz) September 7, 2017
'Your govt has sold my generation down the river' fires up @jacindaardern 'I've raised this generation' says @pmbillenglish #decision17
— Jane Patterson (@janepatterson) September 7, 2017
