Labour leader Chris Hipkins believes the election remains "wide open" despite recent polling showing the likelihood of his party leading the next Government is very low.
Hipkins cast his vote in Mangere, Auckland on Thursday morning, just two days out from the October 14 polling day.
Speaking to media, the incumbent Prime Minister said the majority of New Zealanders hadn't yet voted and his message to them was that "your vote counts" and "will determine the outcome of this year's general election".
"This is going to be a very close election," he said.
"All of the polls in the last 48 hours have shown the gap between the centre left and the centre right has been narrowing.
"That means that every single vote that gets cast is going to make a difference, with the majority of New Zealanders still to vote, this election is still wide open, but it's clear it's going to be very close."
The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll results released on Wednesday night showed the bloc of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori had more seats (56) than National and ACT (54). That means National and ACT would need New Zealand First's 11 seats to take power. Labour has ruled out working with NZ First.
Labour is on 27.5 percent, up 1 point since late September, compared to National's 34.5 percent. National's result is down 4.6 points since our last poll.
Hipkins denied it was an error to rule out Peters.
"I don't believe that Winston Peters would be good and I believe that the polls clearly show that if people want to avoid that, then giving their vote to Labour is the best way to avoid Winston Peters holding the country to ransom," Hipkins said on Wednesday.
As of the end of October 10, nearly 850,000 votes had been cast.
Watch Hipkins speak to media above.
