Election 2023: Photos from the campaign trail, Thursday 14 September

After visiting Punakaiki rocks today on the West Coast, construction workers building a path asked if Chris Hipkins wanted to try out the digger. Hipkins accepted the offer. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

National Party leader Christopher Luxon spoke to staff at Hagley Windows & Doors in the Christchurch suburb of Islington this morning and was mobbed by staff for selfies at the end of the visit. Photo: RNZ / Craig McCulloch

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins started the day in Hokitika, visiting the Kai Puku Food Hub - a service that takes excess product from supermarkets and distributes it to those in need. Photo: ANGUS DREAVER / RNZ

A lunchtime walkabout saw Luxon sampling some of the food on offer at Riverside Market in central Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Staying on the West Coast, Hipkins later visited the under-construction Pounamu Pathway project in Greymouth, with local MP Damien O'Connor. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Luxon meets a member of the public at Riverside Market (left) and a staff member at Hagley Windows & Doors (right) while on the campaign trail in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Craig McCulloch

Hipkins met with 91-year-old Nan Dixon, a long-time Labour supporter, while campaigning on the West Coast. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Christopher Luxon meets with farmers in Kirwee. Photo: RNZ / Craig McCulloch

Long-time Labour supporter Nan Dixon, 91, has photos of herself with former Labour leaders Jacinda Ardern and David Shearer on her bookshelf. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

National Party leader Christopher Luxon on the campaign trail at Riverside Market in central Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Craig McCulloch

Chris Hipkins with tourists at Punakaiki rocks. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Signage displayed at Rollickin Gelato Cafe in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Craig McCulloch

Christopher Luxon meets farmers in Kirwee, west of Christchurch, ahead of announcing a primary industries policy. Photo: RNZ / Craig McCulloch

At Punakaiki rocks, Chris Hipkins pointed out the holes in the rocks and said, "those are just like the holes in the National Party's tax cut plan!" Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

From Wednesday night, candidates debate at Auckland's K Rd Whammy Bar with moderator Russell Brown, National's Mahesh Muralidhar Ted Johnston New Conservatives, Aotearoa legalise cannabis party - Chris Coker, Greens MP Chlöe Swarbrick, TOP's Damian Sycamore, Labour's Oscar Sims and ACT's Felix Poole. Photo: Emma Stanford