Polls show no clear winner nine days out from New Zealand's election

Polls taken in the lead-up to New Zealand's 7 November general election show no clear winner or coalition grouping, Reuters reported. The agency made that assessment with nine days to go before the vote.

A poll reported by the NZ Herald put National on 24.8% and Labour on 30.6%. A live blog by Stuff reported Labour on 27%, the Green Party on 15%, ACT on 12% and NZ First on 10%.

National leader Christopher Luxon has stood by his election strategy. He denied that National had gone too negative too early with its attacks over tax. He made the comments in an interview published on 28 October.

Party leaders ended a busy day on the campaign trail with the TVNZ Kaupapa Māori Debate, a debate focused on issues that matter to Māori, according to RNZ's live coverage. RNZ said its daily live coverage will continue until election day.

Aotearoa has seven Māori seats. RNZ has described Te Tai Tokerau as probably the most contested and hardest to call of them (RNZ).

The BBC has identified cost of living, unemployment and healthcare as among the main concerns of voters in this election (BBC).