Yesterday saw the biggest turnout in advance voting for the 2023 election, with 109,195 people casting their ballots. That brings the total advance vote tally to close to half a million – 480,022.

The orange line below shows how early voting compares with recent elections.

After first acknowledging the terror attacks on Israel, Chris Hipkins removed his prime ministerial hat and put on his bright red Labour leader one.

Fronting for reporters, Hipkins said there was “energy and momentum” from his party going into the final week of the campaign and took aim at National for “threatening New Zealand with another election”.

It comes after comments by the National Party warning of the “real possibility” it wouldn’t be able to reach an agreement with Winston Peters and New Zealand First, which could potentially force a return to the polls.

Hipkins said National’s campaign was starting to fall apart and the party wouldn’t be able to “cope” with the pressure of actually being in government.

“I don’t think that New Zealand needs another election,” said Hipkins, though doubling down on his commitment not to work with NZ First, even if it was the only option to prevent a second election.

“New Zealand First is not a recipe for stable government,” he said. “The fact that Christopher Luxon has breathed life into the New Zealand First campaign is a question for him.”

Meanwhile, in echoes of 2008, there’s now a secondary campaign running between former prime ministers John Key and Helen Clark. Earlier in the week, a video of Key was shared on National social media platforms in an effort to motivate voters not to back New Zealand First. Today, Labour has shared a video of Clark.

Hipkins wouldn’t say whether or not other prime ministers – notably Jacinda Ardern – would appear in any campaign videos ahead of October 14.

The prime minister has “unequivocally” condemned the “terror attacks by Hamas on Israel”, criticising the targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages.

Speaking to reporters in Auckland, Chris Hipkins said New Zealand had designated the military wing of Hamas a terrorist organisation. There were 87 New Zealanders registered as being in Israel and one in the occupied Palestinian area, said Hipkins.

“We are very concerned that the situation will escalate in the coming days and New Zealand again calls for restraint, the protection of non-combatants, and the upholding of international humanitarian law by all parties,” he said.

Earlier, foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta tweeted to say she was “concerned” by the conflict, a statement seen by some as insufficient.

For example, Act’s David Seymour said on: “Someone in New Zealand needs to condemn the actions of Hamas terrorists because we can’t rely on our foreign minister to do so.”

Asked about the remarks by Mahuta and whether they were out of step with his own, Hipkins said that was to do with timing. “From time to time a response will evolve as further information comes to light and what the world should be reassured by is that New Zealand condemns these attacks,” he said.

“What’s important now is we express very clearly our concern. We do condemn them [and] we do recognise Israel’s right to defend itself.”

The New Zealand foreign minister and the leader of the opposition have issued short statements in response to the explosion of violence overnight in the Middle East. A surprise flurry of rocket launches from Gaza and advances from Hamas militants into Israeli towns on a Jewish holiday Saturday saw more than 250 people killed, while Israeli strikes in response killed at least 232 people in Gaza, according to the Associated Press. Israel’s prime minister said they were at war and pledged to exact an “unprecedented price”.

“Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply concerned at the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Gaza,” said the foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta, in a social media post. “We call for the immediate cessation of violence. The protection of all civilians, and upholding of international humanitarian law is essential.”

National leader Christopher Luxon wrote: “I am shocked and saddened by the attacks overnight against Israel. We condemn these Hamas attacks on Israel and the violence and suffering being inflicted on innocent civilians. There is no justification for these attacks and Israel has a right to defend itself.”

Green Party foreign affairs spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman wrote: “The scenes in Israel are heartbreaking. Nothing justifies targeting or harming civilians. Palestinian armed groups and Israeli forces must make every effort to protect civilians now.”

The Act Party issued a statement expressing solidarity with Israel while condemning “terrorist attacks” from Hamas and rebuking Mahuta’s response. “At a time like this New Zealand needs a government which stands firm with its friends and allies. Sadly, under Labour, New Zealand stands alone in the worst possible way, with a foreign minister only able to express ‘concern’ that violence has ‘broken out’, as if it happened by chance,” said David Seymour. “In an increasingly uncertain world, New Zealand needs a government that is committed to defence, committed to working with our allies and committed to defending freedom and democracy worldwide.

Labour leader and prime minister Chris Hipkins is expected to address the situation when he speaks to media shortly before 1pm.