1 NEWS Vote 17: TVNZ announces Election coverage line-up

As New Zealand prepares to head to the ballot box on 23 September, the 1 NEWS Vote 17 team will present comprehensive coverage of this year’s General Election.

The special line-up will draw on the breadth and resources of the country’s most trusted news team, says John Gillespie, TVNZ’s Head of News and Current Affairs.

“It’s shaping up to be a very exciting election. Already 1 NEWS’ agenda setting journalism has led the way in Election build up, and Election night we’ll lead the way again. We’ve got a strong mix of content and people across our platforms to scrutinise the issues and inform New Zealanders.

“I’m pleased to say Vote Compass is making a return, which was hugely popular last election. It shows people where they stand in relation to the political parties’ policies,” he says.

Live debates

• The first live leaders debate takes place between Bill English and Jacinda Ardern on 31 August at 7pm on TVNZ 1. It will be the first time voters see the leaders of the country’s biggest parties going head-to-head in an hour long primetime debate.

• On 8 September at 7pm on TVNZ 1, 1 NEWS’ 90 minute multi-party debate brings together the potential coalition partners of the major parties.

• The 1 NEWS Young Voters Debate is a 90 minute special focusing on youth issues in association with Auckland University. It will be live streamed via ONE NEWS NOW on 14 September from 7.30pm.

• Then on 20 September from 7pm to 8pm on TVNZ 1, it’s the final leaders debate between English and Ardern.

Mike Hosking will moderate the three televised leaders debates on TVNZ 1 and Jack Tame will host the live streamed young voters debate in the lead up to polling day. The debates will be live streamed on 1 NEWS NOW, Facebook and YouTube and simulcast on Newstalk ZB.

1 NEWS Vote 17 Election Night Special: 23 September from 7pm on TVNZ 1 & TVNZ.co.nz
The Election night special will be fronted by Seven Sharp’s Mike Hosking with Breakfast’s Hilary Barry, 1 NEWS at Six’s Simon Dallow and Wendy Petrie, 1 NEWS political editor Corin Dann and Sunday’s Jehan Casinader. The team will go live to reporters and party bases across the country and present authoritative coverage and insightful analysis of the results as they come in.

“New state of the art graphics and studio tech will take viewers closer to Election developments,” says John Gillespie. “Excitingly, Election night will give viewers their first look at 1 NEWS’ new augmented reality studio set up – it will enhance our visual storytelling and dynamically bring the election results to life.”

Q + A & Marae specials: Sunday 24 September from 8am on TVNZ 1 & TVNZ.co.nz

As the nation wakes up the morning after the Election, Q + A and Marae will bring viewers up to speed on overnight developments and feature live studio interviews with key players from across the political spectrum.

From 8am, a two hour Q + A special will talk to the Election’s big winners and losers. Presenters Corin Dann, Jessica Mutch and Greg Boyed will analyse who has the numbers to form the next Government, what it will look like and what they are likely to do.

Then from 10am, Marae will have all seven successful Maori seat MPs live on the show. Presented by Miriama Kamo and Scotty Morrison, Marae forms a critical part of TVNZ's election coverage with its focus on the issues that matter to Maori examined through a Maori lens.

The 1 NEWS political team – Corin Dann, Andrea Vance and Katie Bradford – will continue to bring New Zealanders up to date with the latest developments and expert analysis of the General Election across 1 NEWS updates and 1 NEWS NOW.

Vote Compass (launching later this month)
1 NEWS is bringing back Vote Compass in the lead up to next month’s General Election. In the 2014 Election 330,000 people used the interactive tool. Vote Compass gives voters a clear picture of how their views line up with the policies of the political parties. 1 NEWS has developed Vote Compass in collaboration with leading New Zealand academics and Vox Pop Labs. The voter engagement initiative is presented in partnership with the Electoral Commission and Auckland University.

Other TVNZ Election highlights:
In the lead up to the Election, Te Karere’s Pōti17 series will focus on the seven Maori electorates – weekdays at 3.55pm on TVNZ 1.

Weekly Pasifika news and current affairs mainstay Tagata Pasifika will speak to all the main parties and their leaders during the Election season – Saturday mornings at 9am on TVNZ 1.

Re:, TVNZ”s news voice for young New Zealanders, will publish 18 videos in the 18 days before the Election that look at youth issues through the lens of a first time voter. Re:’s Election series is supported by Massey University.

Coming soon to TVNZ 1, Face The Classroom, sees New Zealand’s future voters grill our political leaders in two hour-long pre-Election specials funded by NZ on Air.

Shorty Shorts: What Matters to You?: TVNZ and Shortland Street have teamed up with the Electoral Commission to convince youth to get out and vote. The video campaign focuses on the personal passions of actors Ngahuia Piripi, Tane Williams-Accra and Reuben Milner. Their stories illustrate that you don’t have to be political; the simple things you care about are reason to vote.

ENDS

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