Labour leader Jacinda Ardern felt "pretty invigorated" during her first TV debate against National leader Judith Collins, despite a commentator describing her performance as lacking passion.
Political scientist Jennifer Lees-Marshment said Collins was more effective than Ardern during Tuesday night's TVNZ debate, because the Labour leader "lacked passion" and came across as "too academic".
"Ardern was very, almost academic, but we wouldn't expect her to be like that. Something was up tonight," said Dr Lees-Marshment. "Where's the passion? Where's the heart? She was more defensive than we would expect, Ardern."
Ardern said on Wednesday she felt like the debate went well by managing to get her points across without slipping into what she's described as political "bloodsport".
"Last night I achieved exactly what I wanted to achieve, which was to get out our plan to give voters for that first debate the chance to hear about our policies and ideas for the future."
Ardern said she did not agree with commenters that her performance was flat.
"I certainly felt pretty invigorated out there actually, so no I didn't feel that way at all, but what I would say is this is one of four I think over the course of the debates," she said.
"No one will be left in any question as to our style, the leadership we bring and the ideas we have, and that's the whole purpose. This is a time where people are looking for certainty, what our recovery and rebuild plan looks like, and that's what I believe I achieved."
Collins told The AM Show on Wednesday if Ardern can't handle "bloodsport" then she should "go home" because debating is supposed to be bloodsport.
"That's what a debate is, isn't it? It's a boxing match without the boxing. So you know, it's not physically blood, but it's a tough environment. If people don't want to be able to do deal with that, or they can't deal with it, my answer is go home."
Ardern said all she meant by the "bloodsport" comment was that it's not what she thinks voters want from political leaders.
"Whatever the nature of those debates are, we'll take them as they come, but ultimately I went in with an approach that I wanted people to hear our policies and what our plan is, and that's what I did," she said.
Collins has claimed victory over the debate but Ardern is sceptical about assuming the outcome.
"You'll find from the debates since 2017, I have never made assumptions about the outcomes of debates either way, no matter what commentators have said," Ardern said.
"In fact, my recollection is in 2017 it got called my way and I wasn't even sure I agreed with that, so I've always left it up to voters to decide."
Collins, who visited an agriculture company in Waikato on Wednesday, said she received a warm welcome and was praised by locals for her performance in the debate.
"They just like me going out and saying it as it is. People here aren't much into waffle. It's all pretty much straight down the line and hopefully they enjoyed that," she said.
"I really enjoyed it actually, I really enjoyed it. I know I've got another one next week and I've got to come up for that as well and I'm sure that Ms Ardern will want to do better as well. I just want to do better every time I do these."
But Collins is still trailing behind Ardern when it comes to who Kiwis would prefer as Prime Minister.
A new Colmar Brunton poll shows Ardern on 54 percent compared to Collins on 18 percent. Labour is also way ahead on 48 percent compared to National on 31 percent.
You can read a wrap of the TV debate here.
