Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has acknowledged the election will be extremely close as he makes a final appeal to Canterbury voters to give National another three years in government.

In an interview with chrislynchmedia.com, Luxon urged voters not to abandon his government’s economic programme just as he believes it is beginning to deliver results.

“I think it’s going to be very close and tight, Chris. “Stick with the plan. We don’t leave a job half done. We need more time.”

Luxon pointed to new Treasury figures showing the government’s underlying operating deficit for the three months to September was $1.3 billion smaller than forecast.

He said National’s economic policies would deliver 220,000 additional jobs over the next four years, with wages growing faster than inflation and a return to surplus in 2028/29.

But when challenged on why the election remained so competitive if the government’s economic plan was working, Luxon refused to be drawn into predictions about the result.

“The only poll that matters is on Saturday, and there’s a lot of polls saying a lot of different things.”

He continued to attack the prospect of a Labour government supported by the Greens, warning of increased spending, borrowing and taxation if Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick became finance minister.

Asked whether National’s repeated warnings about Swarbrick were having any impact, given the Greens’ position in the polls, Luxon again insisted the election result would be the ultimate test.

The Prime Minister was also questioned about coalition partners Winston Peters and David Seymour encouraging voters to split their votes, potentially at National’s expense.

“Look, we’re an MMP world, and yeah, I’ve just been saying to people, don’t complicate it.”

Luxon argued anyone wanting National’s policies, ministers and leadership at the centre of the next government needed to give the party their party vote.

He pointed to ministers including Mark Mitchell, Erica Stanford and Todd McClay as examples of the experience National would bring to another term.

The Prime Minister also faced questions about whether National’s campaign had become too negative, potentially alienating undecided voters.

“Not at all. I think we’ve had a very positive plan.”

He pointed to proposals involving KiwiSaver, housing deposits, education, crime, infrastructure and economic growth, arguing New Zealand would be in a stronger position by 2030 if National remained in office.

With the possibility of difficult coalition negotiations after Saturday’s vote, Luxon was asked who he expected to telephone first on election night.

“Oh, look, we’ll have to see. I mean, we’ll have to see.”

He said he had already made clear which parties he was prepared to work with, but his immediate priority was securing the largest possible party vote for National.

The general election takes place on Saturday 7 November.