TVNZ's multi-party debate this week illustrated key features of this election campaign: the minor parties' rising popularity, and the complicated role of NZ First.

"Imagine if we woke up on the 15th of October in limboland" - former prime minister John Key

TVNZ's multi-party debate this week illustrated key features of this election campaign: the minor parties' rising popularity, and the complicated role of NZ First.

With polls they would need Winston Peters, National and ACT have been continuing to talk down his appeal - but it remains preferable to defeat.

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National has only hardened its language over needing Peters to form a government, saying it's a "last resort" or "worst case scenario", and former PM John Key even weighed in with a plea to voters to avoid it.

Putting aside the personality problems, there are major policy differences too - including on superannuation and tax.

But the position of the right bloc trio is certainly preferable to the one Labour's in: lagging in the polls, with no road to power, and leader Chris Hipkins laid low by Covid-19 during the first week of voting.

Labour's candidates struggled to stick to the party line on a wealth tax - while National was caught out overegging its tax cut promise. Just a week to go until the big day - and plenty to watch out for.

In Focus on Politics this week, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch dissects the past week, speaking to Guyon Espiner alongside RNZ and NBR political editors Jane Patterson and Brent Edwards, and RNZ political reporter Anneke Smith.

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Listen free to Focus on Politics on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, on iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details