TV One Election Debates Announced

Thursday 13th October 2011

TV ONE has scheduled three 90 minute election debates in the lead up to polling day on the 26th of November.

ELECTION 2011 – LEADERS DEBATE
Monday 31st October, 7pm on TV ONE

ONE News kicks off the election campaign with the first televised debate between National Party leader John Key and Labour Party leader Phil Goff.

ELECTION 2011 – MINOR PARTIES LEADERS DEBATE
Wednesday 16th November, 7pm on TV ONE

ONE News puts the leaders of the minor parties under the spotlight in this second election campaign debate

ELECTION 2011 – LEADERS DEBATE: THE DECIDER
Wednesday 23rd November, 7pm on TV ONE

ONE News presents its last televised debate between National Party leader John Key and Labour Party leader Phil Goff

DEBATE FORMAT

All of the debates are LIVE and hosted by Close Up’s Mark Sainsbury and moderated by political editor Guyon Espiner.

Mark Sainsbury will be joined by political scientists Dr Jon Johansson & Dr Claire Robinson.

The debates will be held in front of a live audience – the audience members will be invited by TVNZ and will not be representatives of political parties.

A media panel lead by Te Karere Editor, Shane Taurima will also be given time to ask questions.

Viewers can be part of the action by sending in video questions for the leaders, voting in a text poll or posting comments on TVNZ’s social network sites. The debates will also be streamed live on tvnz.co.nz

ENDS