Labour leader Chris Hipkins has spoken out from his sick bed to slam National's Christopher Luxon for not participating in a major leaders debate.
Luxon has released a statement of his own, saying he didn't pull out of the debate - because the debate wasn't going ahead.
But Stuff earlier on Monday said the company was still trying to find a time for both leaders to debate, though National wasn't providing any new dates.
National confirmed to Newshub on Monday that Luxon would not be participating in The Press debate, which organisers were attempting to reschedule after Hipkins fell ill due to COVID-19.
A spokesperson for National told Newshub Luxon had been prepared to do the debate with Hipkins on Tuesday night when it was originally scheduled, but the party couldn't rearrange Luxon's plans to do another date. National also wouldn't put Luxon up against another Labour MP, arguing the debate was meant to be "leader-to-leader".
Hipkins, who is in isolation with COVID, released a statement on his Instagram account saying he was "really disappointed" to hear Luxon had "pulled out".
"This is the only leaders debate held in the South Island and has been a tradition since 2011 when it was established after the earthquakes. I know it will be a big let-down for the people of Christchurch," Hipkins said.
"Labour gave the organisers an undertaking we would look to make nearly any date work once I'm out of COVID isolation. We even said if an alternative date couldn't work, I would look to do it via Zoom."
He said Luxon had been "walking away from the hard questions lately", something Prime Ministers can't do.
"In this role, you don't get to choose what questions you'll answer or if you'll front or not. National knows their numbers are coming down and their economic plan doesn't add up so want to minimise the number of appearances their leader had to make before polling day. I think that does voters a disservice."
Hipkins said he "couldn't help getting COVID", but would be holding some online town halls while he was recovering.
A number of Labour MPs have shared posts of Luxon in a chicken suit.
In his own statement on Monday afternoon, Luxon said he hadn't pulled out of the debate.
"The debate isn't going ahead because Chris Hipkins has COVID and rescheduling during the last week of the campaign has proven impossible," he said.
"Claims that I have pulled out are just more misinformation being spread by Labour, because they have nothing positive to say about themselves and have no positive plans for New Zealand."
He said he had already debated Hipkins twice on television and would do so again next Thursday night.
Despite Luxon saying he hadn't pulled out because the debate wasn't going ahead, earlier on Monday, Joanna Norris from Stuff, which was putting on The Press debate, said the company had still been "working hard with both parties to secure a date for The Press debate next week, once the Labour leader is out of isolation".
"At this stage, Mr Luxon's team have been unable to provide any alternative dates," she said.
"Thousands of people were looking forward to seeing both leaders in person in the only South Island debate, which is also live-streamed on Stuff. It will be a huge disappointment to a great many people, if this cannot go ahead."
National campaign chair Chris Bishop said the party had proposed deputy Nicola Willis go up against Labour deputy Kelvin Davis, or that other MPs with similar portfolios could participate. He said Luxon's schedule couldn't rearranged at this stage in the election campaign.
NZ First leader Winston Peters has also offered to take Luxon's spot.
"With Luxon now not attending the rescheduled Press leaders debate, I will make myself available to take his place and challenge Hipkins to a face to face debate. I look forward to his reply."
