New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is calling for an election delay after another burst of COVID-19 transmission in the community.
The election was due to be held on September 19, but this date looks increasingly under threat as the number of cases grows.
"Since Monday evening, August 10, we have said that our health response must come first and politics second. That remains our view as the case numbers rise each day," Peters says in a statement on Sunday.
"We know we don't have a unique strain of the virus, and that the Americold connection does not exist, as product from that source has not been imported into the country for months, so the border remains the likely source of the outbreak.
"More's the point, there is now no ability to conduct a free and fair election if the Prime Minister decides to hold the General Election on September 19."
Auckland has been put back into alert level 3, while the rest of New Zealand is at level 2. Political parties say this prevents them from door-knocking, holding public meetings and campaigning effectively.
"Operating the election at alert level 2 in Auckland raises concerns about the effect on turnout. The psychology of Auckland voters, as well as the wider voting community, is highly likely to lead to a reduced turnout given legitimately held health fears; by how much is the real concern," Peters says.
"Voters need to be able to hear from all political parties about their COVID response and other policies. That is fair. But until Auckland's alert level comes down the playing field is hopelessly compromised.
"New Zealand First believes we risk undermining the legitimacy of the election result, creating an awful precedent which could be abused by the Prime Minister's successors."
Peters' call to delay the election has been backed by National leader Judith Collins, who earlier this week said it should be delayed until November or even next year.
"We are calling on the Prime Minister to decide, as she can without the need to bring back Parliament to discuss it or to vote on it, to shift out the election date until a date later in November," she said on Wednesday.
"That would ensure whether or not we are actually able to vote properly and to campaign properly before that.
"If she does not feel able to do so in terms of the COVID level threat at that stage, then the alternative is for her to call back Parliament and by a super majority could have the election pushed back into next year.
"We think that is probably the better alternative. The fact that we now have a COVID-19 community outbreak that does not seem to have been distinguished from any other outbreak, tells us that we cannot necessarily be sure that there will be an ability to run a full election."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she will give an update on the election date at 10am on Monday.
"The Prime Minister has proactively sought the views of the leaders of every political party represented in parliament this afternoon about the election date. A range of views have been expressed that the Prime Minister has taken on board," her spokesperson says.
"The Prime Minister will provide an update tomorrow morning once she has also reviewed the most up to date health information on the situation in Auckland."
