National leader Chris Luxon has warned his supporters against complacency as all signs point to his centre-right party winning the New Zealand election.
Polls have indicated a National-led government for months, with little change during a gruelling six-week campaign.
Mr Luxon's predecessor and political mentor John Key agreed with the pollsters, telling Newstalk ZB on Friday his former party had the result in the bank.
"National wins it," he said.
As he journeyed from Rotorua to Auckland on the final day of campaigning, Mr Luxon was not so sure.
"I'm actually worried that people think we've already won," he told voters.
A National win would confirm a riches-to-rags story for Labour.
Under Jacinda Ardern, Labour was rewarded for its COVID-19 management at the 2020 poll, when it won the biggest vote share for any party since World War II.
Three years later, with Ms Ardern replaced by Chris Hipkins, the toll of governing through a pandemic and a high-inflation economy looks set to cost Labour a third term.
The final pitches from Thursday night's TVNZ leaders' debate showed the major parties' campaigns in a microcosm.
Mr Luxon referenced the two biggest campaign issues to make his case - the cost of living and crime.
"If you're struggling with your mortgage, your rent, or buying groceries; if you're working hard, but you just can't get ahead; if you're feeling unsafe in your community - you need change," he said.
"National will rebuild the economy to reduce the cost of living and give you tax relief.
"We will restore law and order and provide better education and health care.
"National has the team, the energy and the positive plans to take New Zealand forward so please party vote National and together, let's get our country back on track."
Mr Hipkins focused on attacking National, which has been central to Labour's playbook for weeks.
"In tough times, it's natural to look for change but change has consequences," Mr Hipkins said.
"If Christopher Luxon wins, you lose.
"Thousands of kids will be back in poverty and we will go backwards on climate change.
"There is a better way.
"Labour will help you with the cost of living and grow our economy.
"We're seeing a surge in support because New Zealanders see what's at risk ... so my message to you is vote your values and party vote Labour."
Labour argues it has late campaign momentum following a tightening in recent polls, but none offer the left bloc a pathway to power.
Instead, election night intrigue is likely to centre on whether National can govern with its preferred coalition partner ACT alone, or needs help from Winston Peters' NZ First to reach a majority.
At 78, Mr Peters is set to pull off another political comeback, 45 years after he was first elected as a National MP and three years after voters turfed his populist party from parliament.
Mr Peters has pledged to only deal with National after the election, which means coalition negotiations are sure to coronate Mr Luxon.
On the final, frantic day of campaigning, Mr Hipkins went go-karting and showed off awful dance moves as he travelled between stops in south Auckland, aiming to maximise Labour turnout.
Mr Luxon flew to Rotorua on board an Air New Zealand flight, the airline he used to run, handing out sweets.
There, he rejoined his blue campaign bus, which drove the Hampden Downs race track on its three-day odyssey across North Island to arrive in Auckland on election night.
The leaders of the Greens, who are on track for a record result, spent their final day campaigning in left-leaning Wellington.
ACT leader David Seymour and Mr Peters - uneasy coalition bedfellows who share personal and policy animosity - were in Auckland, where Mr Peters voted.
Campaigns must shut up shop at midnight, as electoral law mandates a blackout of all political campaigning or messaging on polling day.
Unlike Australia, where polling places are a hive of energy on election day - with sausage sizzles and volunteers handing out "how-to-vote" cards - all such activity is banned in NZ.
Billboards are taken down, newspapers are free of campaign stories - except where to vote - and candidates are free to sleep in, given promoting their cause is illegal.
