Behind in the polls but bright in the first election debate, New Zealand opposition leader Judith Collins has returned to her home turf to meet with a super-fan who tattooed her likeness into his leg.
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On Wednesday, the 61-year-old leader of the National party travelled to Matamata in the Waikato region of North Island where she grew up.
At a local cafe she met Nik Given, who has proven his political allegiances with a mammoth tattoo of Ms Collins on his thigh.
Mr Given told Ms Collins the tattoo took "two or three hours behind the scenes doing the design work (and) about six hours under the needle".
"There had to be a few whiskeys to get me through," he said.
The image is a stylised rendition of photo of Ms Collins as police minister firing a gun at a training range, with the NZ flag in the background and Ms Collins' nickname "Crusher" splashed in pink.
The opposition leader said she "couldn't be more thrilled" about the tattoo and was delighted to meet Mr Given in person.
"I particularly like the golden gun," she said.
"If you're going to have a gun you might as well have a golden one".
National and Ms Collins have endured a rollercoaster 24 hours in the campaign, beginning with the release of the first poll in six weeks.
The TVNZ-Colmar Brunton poll showed Jacinda Ardern's Labour in front on 48 per cent, with National on 31 per cent.
When replicated into seats, it would make Ms Ardern the first prime minister since 1996 to be able to govern without the support of a minor party since electoral reform.
Still, the results didn't stop Ms Collins from an enthusiastic showing in the first of four leaders debates, broadcast on Tuesday night.
With 1.15 million New Zealanders - more than one in every five Kiwis - tuning in, Ms Collins took the fight up to Ms Ardern, who appeared flat-footed.
Ms Collins claimed victory after the contest, saying, "I certainly didn't feel like I was losing."
But Ms Ardern cautioned against a binary reading of the debate.
"The purpose of tonight was to give voters an insight into our plans. Politics is not a blood sport," the prime minister said.
Ms Collins retorted saying, "That's what a debate is, isn't it? It's a boxing match without the boxing", claiming momentum despite being behind.
"It's very important for me to be the underdog. It's when I really get going," she said.
"We've still got some debates to go. I'm bringing my sass ... again next time too.
New Zealanders begin voting on October 3 ahead of election day on October 17.
Australian Associated Press
