ONE NEWS: The leaders of New Zealand's smaller political parties have made their first election year pitch for power in a live debate on TVNZ's new factual channel.
All the minor party leaders except Winston Peters took part in the debate which was hosted by TVNZ political editor Guyon Espiner.
The party leaders were grilled about who they would support in government, with some revealing bottom lines such as Act's Rodney Hide who says the party will only go with National if it abolishes the 39 cent tax rate.
Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton said he thought it was "a nonsense to have people not knowing where their vote is going to end up in terms of forming a government".
But some were hedging their bets with Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons saying it seemed "much more likely that Labour will move closer to our policies than National would".
Others were not sure. Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said being a new party they would take it back to the people.
But Maori Party supporters are clear, with a TVNZ 7 Colmar Brunton poll showing 64% want to go with Labour versus 22% with National. New Zealand First voters are leaning slightly toward National while most of United Future's people want the party to ditch Labour in favour of National.
The poll, commissioned as part of the debate, shows that taxation along with housing affordability, wages and interest rates are the key issues concerning New Zealanders at the moment.
The Maori Party's bottom line is the foreshore and seabed and Maori seats.
For Act and United Future tax is a big issue and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne gave a hint about what is coming, saying there will be "significant personal tax cuts in the budget" although he would not divulge the figure.
The five party leaders were also questioned on race relations in New Zealand, the economy, the environment and law and order.
The Kingmaker debate was screened live on TVNZ 7, marking the launch of TVNZ's digital channel.
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