Hipkins challenges Luxon to debate on health

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has challenged National leader Christopher Luxon to a debate on health.

Hipkins put the challenge to Luxon in a video posted on social media, according to RNZ. Videos posted in that way carry a leader's own words directly to the public without a press conference in between.

Health policy shapes how people seek care when sick or injured. Televised debates and online messages give voters different ways to hear from leaders during a campaign. Broadcast debates invite leaders to answer questions side by side.

In the video, Hipkins said New Zealand's health system was "in crisis". He said New Zealanders deserved "straight answers about the state of their health system and what the future holds".

Luxon denied that New Zealand's healthcare system was in crisis. During a leaders' debate, he said health outcomes were improving overall, according to 1News.

The Labour Party published a release titled 'Labour leader challenges Luxon to debate the health crisis', according to the party. The release is listed on its website Labour. Parties routinely issue written releases to put a position on the record.

Hipkins and Luxon met in a primetime leaders' debate. That Luxon v Hipkins debate lasted 90 minutes and was moderated by Jack Tame. It drew 941,500 live viewers on TVNZ 1, according to 1News. Large television audiences mean such exchanges reach well beyond people who follow politics closely.

The two were scheduled to face off in the Herald Leaders Debate on 13 Oct at 9:00 AM, according to the NZ Herald.