Labour MP David Parker says election debates are good for TV ratings, but probably don't change many people's votes.
His boss Jacinda Ardern and National's Judith Collins have come face-to-face twice now, firstly on TVNZ last week in an empty studio with host John Campbell, then on Three on Wednesday, hosted by Patrick Gower in front of a studio audience.
While Collins was widely considered the winner of the first thanks to her aggressive approach, Ardern fought back in the second to what commentators called an entertaining draw.
It was held just hours after Joe Biden and Donald Trump faced off in the "worst debate in American history".
"Looking at that Trump debate and the New Zealand debate, they're good for ratings and maybe they encourage people to vote, but I'm not sure that they shift that many votes," Parker told The AM Show.
National's Simon Bridges, appearing with Parker on The AM Show, begged to differ.
"I think they matter. People have their different views, but Judith was forthright, she gave straight answers to things. I thought Jacinda - maybe part of it's being Prime Minister, but she was more vague. You didn't get straight answers to all of the questions."
While their picks for the winner predictably fell along partisan lines, Bridges did have some kind words for Ardern.
"I will give Jacinda most-improved player because I think she had a coffee or a Red Bull or something beforehand, and she went in with a bit of energy."
Parker said it was common for debates to focus the limelight on the challenger rather than the incumbent - but said the favourable coverage for Collins won't necessarily win her the election.
"Don't confuse attention for momentum. What's the latest Newshub poll? Judith was up 1 percent - the margin of error was 3 percent. You certainly haven't got momentum."
In what's become a common theme of this election campaign for both major parties, Parker got his numbers wrong. Collins was on 17.7 percent, up 3.1 percent - outside the margin of error, which at Collins' level of support is 2.3 percent (margins of error are smaller the further you get from the 50 percent mark).
Parker said ultimately, the only poll that matters is the one that starts tomorrow - voting.
Something Bridges and Parker agreed on was that the Newshub debate was better than TVNZ's.
"I'm not just saying that," said Bridges. "I said it on Twitter too."
