Judith Collins says she 'could have gone for another hour' in first leaders' debate

Judith Collins says she “really enjoyed” herself during the first TVNZ leaders debate this evening, and “could have gone for another hour”.

During a post leaders' debate media conference, the National Party leader said she felt her party’s policies, and her own personality came across throughout the debate.

“I got out tax cuts, I got out RMA (Resource Management Act) reform, I got out tech policy, I got a lot of policy out there and you know what that’s only an hour and a half, if only it was two and half I could have done more.

"I actually thought it was a great session, I really enjoyed John Campbell's chairing of it and I just thought that's the first leader's debate I've had - I tell you what if they get any better than that it will be fantastic."

When asked if she thought she had won the debate, Collins answered: "Yeah, I reckon."

"I certainly didn't feel like I was losing."

Meanwhile Jacinda Ardern said she felt the debate was "no different or certainly no worse than a Parliamentary environment". 

The Labour leader said the purpose of the debate was to give an insight into the party's plans, and she felt like it provided a good opportunity.

"I absolutely felt like there was that opportunity to get across our plan for the future. 

"My view is that politics is not a blood sport, it is a chance for people to see what our ambitions are, where we want to take New Zealand, and I think we had the platform for that tonight."