More claims of misinformation are being thrown around on the campaign trail on Tuesday, with National taking aim at an email with erroneous information from a group of unions, and Labour attacking National over an allegation that Chris Hipkins' leadership is under threat.
Chris Bishop, National's campaign chair, on Tuesday morning released a statement to media claiming that Labour and the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) were in cahoots sending out an email over the weekend "with several outright lies about the National Party".
The email, sent to CTU supporters on Sunday, encouraged recipients to vote and said that if National and ACT are elected, New Zealand could "lose some of the huge wins working people have won during the six years".
It also listed some "achievements National want to remove", including "10 days sick leave, free prescriptions, the cost-of-living payment, winter energy payment, paid parental leave increased to 26 weeks, cheaper childcare for 2-3-year-olds".
However, many of these are not National policies. For example, it would keep 10 days of sick leave, the winter energy payment and 26 weeks of paid parental leave.
A spokesperson for the CTU told Newshub the email "contained a drafting error with an early version of the text".
"It was a list of achievements that National had opposed when they were launched, rather than continues to oppose. An amended version has already been sent to members."
That would explain the CTU including the cost of living payment on the list. It was paid to eligible New Zealanders in three instalments last year and is no longer being offered.
Bishop said CTU's claim was "reminiscent of Labour's attack ads that said National would cut a public transport subsidy which has never existed, and Chris Hipkins' claim he gets positive feedback from schools about a fizzy drink ban he never introduced."
Labour MPs have also previously been criticised for misinformation about National policies, such as Michael Wood saying National would get rid of the Winter Energy Payment or Shanan Halbert saying National would rewind sick leave to five days.
"Chris Hipkins and his party are out of touch and out of ideas and despite his claims he's told people on his campaign not to lie, neither his candidates nor his surrogates are listening to him," Bishop said.
Hipkins on Tuesday rejected any connection with the CTU's attacks and said the organisation could "make any claims they want". He also said there were "front groups" for National also making "outlandish campaigns".
The Labour leader also hit out at another claim Bishop made on Tuesday - that Labour MPs were readying to roll him as leader.
Bishop said comments from Labour MP Ingrid Leary at a campaign meeting on Monday night showed that new taxes on assets like property were on the cards "once the caucus rolls Chris Hipkins as leader".
Newshub has heard audio of Leary saying: "The Prime Minister has ruled out a wealth tax and a capital gains tax as long as he's leader and I absolutely support that captain's call. Having said that, the single biggest legacy I'd like to leave in my time as an MP is I'd like to leave a transparent and fairer tax system."
Leary also said: "I would also support a capital gains tax but I support my leader and Labour will not be doing that while he's leader."
Bishop said that Labour MPs love tax "like a shark loves blood and Hipkins' colleagues are circling".
"The Labour Party is incredibly divided on tax, with MPs and candidates openly sharing how much they want to slap Kiwis with higher taxes and that it's only Chris Hipkins' shaky leadership standing in their way."
Leary told RNZ that she understood the taxes weren't policy for the next term, but could be in the future. She dismissed the suggestion that Hipkins' leadership was under threat, saying she also said at the meeting that he was a fantastic Prime Minister.
Hipkins said that Leary had been categorical that Labour would not be introducing a wealth tax.
Asked what he thought of National's assertion that Leary's comments show Labour MPs want to roll him, Hipkins repeated his point.
"Ingrid Leary specifically said that we weren't going to be introducing a wealth tax, that I'd made it clear that we weren't going to be introducing a wealth tax. I don't really understand what mischief they're trying to make here."
He said it was misinformation from National.
"I mean, the National Party are desperately trying to distract from the fact that none of their own numbers add up. The reality is that National MPs are all happy to sign up to the fiscal plan because they've got no idea what's in it."
He said Labour is committed to a fair tax system.
Leary isn't the first Labour MP to express interest in a capital gains tax despite it being ruled out.
Ibrahim Omer at a recent candidates debate said the Labour Party "hasn't given up on that". Hipkins said afterwards that those comments were "wrong".
