Updated 4.45pm: The financial minds of the election have gone head to head at a business lunch in Christchurch.

Capital gains tax and job growth were on the agenda when Minister of Finance Bill English and Labourâ s finance spokesperson David Parker took the floor at the Food for Thought lunch.

Mr English told the crowd of local business leaders a change of government would be bad news for the economy.

"The collection of opposition policies, even if you agree with them, will stall they economy while people sit around and figure out what it all means."

Bill English says it's crucial that New Zealand has a stable and credible government, when there a serious gains to be made.

David Parker says a economic shake up is essential.

"We do need to change some things if we are actually going to change some of the systemic problems that we've got."

Mr Parker says Labour would offer stable government and get debt down faster than the current government.