Tamati Coffey: I can win | Todd McClay: The seat is mine
Labour Party candidate Tamati Coffey is confident he has done enough to seriously challenge Rotorua MP Todd McClay in this year's election.
But Mr McClay says he's overwhelmed with his support and is sure the seat will stay with National.
With just one week to go before election day, Mr Coffey said he believed he could beat Mr McClay and take the electorate seat.
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"I'm really positive, we have been talking a lot, now it's crunch time.
"I totally think I can win the seat; I've put in the hard yards and listened a lot as well.
"There is definitely a mood for change and I think most of National's front bench has been to Rotorua recently.
"This indicates to me that Todd has a real fight on his hands."
Mr Coffey said Rotorua voters should think and vote strategically.
"If there are people wondering who to vote for they should vote strategically.
"Todd will get in on the list and you could have me as your electorate MP and Rotorua could end up with three voices representing us in Wellington."
There are five candidates standing in the Rotorua electorate, Mr McClay, Mr Coffey, Fletcher Tabuteau from New Zealand First, Act's Lyall Russell and the Conservatives' Michael Davidson.
Mr McClay said his record in Rotorua spoke for itself and he was sure voters would put him back into Parliament after September 20.
"It sounds like Mr Coffey has given up on his party, like so many others in New Zealand have.
"I have worked very hard for Rotorua in the past six years.
"We have run a very focused campaign and have a lot of support on the ground here.
"I've been to more than 300 meetings in people's homes, workplaces and at debates and I've been overwhelmed with the support for myself and for National."
He said Mr Coffey had his work cut out for him if he wanted to take the Rotorua electorate.
The Rotorua electorate will have at least two MPs after September 20 going by the latest New Zealand Herald DigiPoll.
Support for New Zealand First has leapt 2.1 per cent to 8.1 per cent in the poll released yesterday, meaning the party's Rotorua candidate Fletcher Tabuteau would get into Parliament on the list.
Mr Tabuteau, who is fourth on the party's list, admits he won't win the Rotorua electorate seat - he says that will go to either Mr McClay or Mr Coffey - but says he is buoyed by the latest poll results.
"Let's be honest, the campaign was never about trying to win the Rotorua electorate, but to get the party vote for New Zealand First.
"My message has always been the same - another voice for Rotorua, to keep the government honest and to have common sense in Wellington," he said.
"But, you can't take anything for granted, everyone needs to get out on the 20th and give their party vote to New Zealand First.
But, Mr Tabuteau said polls had consistently under-rated his party in the past and the party did a lot better on election day.
Herald Digipoll
National 48.6 (down 1.5)
Labour 24.6 (up 0.8)
Green11.5 (up 0.1)
New Zealand First 8.1 (up 2.1)
Conservative 3.8 (no change)
Internet-Mana 2.3 (down 1.2)
Maori Party 0.7 (up 0.3)
Act 0.3 (down 0.1)
The New Zealand Herald DigiPoll of 750 eligible voters was conducted between September 4 and 10. The party vote is of decided voters only. Undecided voters were 9.1 per cent. The margin of error is 3.6 per cent.