Final debate: Leaders keen to avoid Dotcom

Prime Minister John Key and Labour Leader David Cunliffe go head to head in the final leaders' debate tonight.

Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader David Cunliffe have one thing in common in the leadup to the final debate tonight - both are hoping Kim Dotcom's name will not come up.

At 7pm on TV One, Key and Cunliffe will join up for the third and final debate before election day on Saturday.

It will be a quickfire affair - only half an hour compared to the hour long previous debates and is expected to focus on leadership and coalitions. And both men today said the believed Mr Dotcom should steer clear from now on.

Mr Key said of Mr Dotcom that "one guy has had a far too disproportionately large influence on this campaign."

"This election is owned by New Zealanders. They surely must have the right to go to the election on Saturday and decide on the really big issues, not what some guy who's turned up in New Zealand thinks is important. Isn't it about the kids, the future, the jobs. I mean, honestly."

Mr Cunliffe echoed a similar sentiment saying Mr Dotcom had been a diversion throughout the campaign and the final two days should be about issues that affected New Zealanders - not Dotcom. "Frankly, I think people have had enough of Kim Dotcom."

The two also gave their final pitches a test run earlier today. Mr Cunliffe said Labour was focussing on what New Zealanders cared about. "The issues of them getting a decent job, getting a recovery, a home to live in that they can own, getting their kids through school and varsity. Those are the issues New Zealanders are talking to me about."

Mr Key said New Zealanders would make up their own minds. "But one thing I can guarantee you is if I'm your Prime Minister on the 21st of September. I'll do my very best to support and promote the issues that matter to New Zealanders."

After the debate both leaders will head off on the final straight of the campaign - by bus. Mr Key will spend the last two days travelling from Wellington to Auckland in the National Party bus after spending the last two days in the South Island.

Mr Cunliffe will spend the two days with the Labour bus, known as 'Big Red' focussing solely on Auckland. Mr Cunliffe said he was restricting himself to Auckland because it was home to one third of the population and Labour had decided it was critical to get its vote out there.

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