National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins met in their final leaders’ debate before New Zealand’s election. The confrontation was described as explosive, with attention focused on five moments that exposed sharp differences between the two campaigns. The exchanges are examined as both campaign drama and a measure of how each leader handles pressure. Luxon’s performance is weighed as the man seeking to lead a National government, while Hipkins is judged as the Labour leader trying to close the gap. The article considers what each approach tells voters about the kind of government he would pursue. Voters are given a concise rundown of the key flashpoints and the leadership qualities revealed by them. The debate represented the last major chance for the rival leaders to make their case directly.