National Party leader John Key made a last-minute change of plan while campaigning in Tauranga on Tuesday 4 November, after discovering he would cross paths with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
He was due at a shopping mall in the suburb of Greerton, but learnt Mr Peters would be there and decided to visit another area of the city.
A National Party spokesperson says Mr Key was not going to provide the New Zealand First leader with a photo opportunity.
Mr Peters says it shows Mr Key does not want to engage with an experienced politician.
He says he had earlier planned to be in Greerton.
Labour leader Helen Clark says Mr Key must be scared of Mr Peters because he changed his schedule to avoid meeting up with him.
