Category: Labour Party

“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said.

“A Ministerial Advisory Group is not an urgent solution to an urgent problem. That $3.6 million could be spent on crime prevention, supporting victims, rehabilitation and stopping reoffending right now.

“Just saying you’ll be tough on crime doesn’t stop crime. We need evidence-based solutions that work, so it’s time to stop playing politics and start working together to build a safer community.”

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“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said.

“Under the last National-ACT model, charter schools received preferential funding, they didn’t have to teach the NZ Curriculum, didn’t have to employ registered teachers and cost up to $48,421 per student annually – six times the average funding spent on students in state schools.

“Charter Schools cost more than public schools and do not get better results. They exist not for the children, but to funnel public money into private hands. Labour has abolished charter schools before, and we’ll do it again,” Jan Tinetti said.

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“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said.

“If Simon Watts believes his plan is as he has described – comprehensive or ambitious then New Zealand is in real trouble. This three-page document is flimsy and backward looking. I can’t help but wonder if the government is scrambling to get ahead of the climate commission’s report card on emission reductions that is due in the coming days.

“Instead, we have seen $3 billion cut from climate initiatives in Budget 2024, including cuts to the work of the Climate Change Commission and stripping down the Warmer Kiwi Homes which led to lower energy bills for Kiwis and made homes more efficient.

“More than seven months into the Government’s term, there is still no concrete plan to reduce our emissions, meet out climate targets, or ensure we have a resilient future. This lack of action will put at risk kiwi jobs and New Zealand’s international reputation,” Megan Woods said.

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Health New Zealand’s recent quarterly performance report shows the public health system is going backwards under the National government.

In the first full quarter under the new Government: 

• The number of people waiting for a procedure increased by 4000, a jump greater than any of the previous recorded quarters. 
• After a substantial reduction in people waiting more than one year for a procedure under Labour, this number is now increasing. 
• The number of patients waiting for a first specialist appointment has gone up by nearly 10,000 in a single quarter. 
• The number of people being treated in less than 31 days for cancer has fallen to 3.1% below the target, and the report notes staffing vacancies are part of the cause. 

“It’s disturbing to see substantial increases in waiting lists. The number of people waiting for surgeries for over four months is on the rise after progress was made to bring waiting lists down under the Labour Government,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.

“What’s inexcusable is the number of people on a waiting list for more than 365 days. As Minister, I made it my priority to see this list reduce, and the list dropped by a thousand people in a quarter. Shane Reti gave officials a pass on meeting this target and now the number of people with unacceptably long waits is increasing.

“The worst performing districts, which are in the South Island, did not report, so the picture is probably much worse there. 

“Since this data was collected, recruitment to frontline roles has been restricted and the health budget has been set below the level required to keep up with the cost of inflation and population growth. 

“The report notes the National Government’s desire to achieve a surplus from Health NZ, and the pressure of staffing costs. The health system won’t achieve more work without funding for the workers to do it. This Government has the wrong priorities,” Ayesha Verrall said.

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“Congratulations to Keir Starmer and the UK Labour Party on its resounding and historic election win.

“We share many values and common goals; a commitment to reaching net zero by 2050, a resilient and well-resourced national health system, and a belief that no-one gets left behind.

“I look forward to seeing progressive change for the United Kingdom and a fairer future for its people.”

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Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is our biggest city and one of the most diverse in the world. This week our Labour team was out and about across Auckland to meet with businesses, educators, innovators, students, community groups, apprentices, housing providers and more.

The goal was to hear from those who are on the ground in different areas, so Labour can reflect and plan how we can best serve Aucklanders.

Click here to share your vision for Auckland

• We visited NZMA Trades South Campus to meet apprentices learning about electronics and even got a chance to pick up the tools. We spoke to apprentices about where they want to go with their work, as well as the educators working hard to train them.
• At Auckland City Mission we met with the Head of Māori Outcomes and managers of the mental health and addictions facility to talk about their work with Māori. They pointed to the desperate need for more connected social services in Auckland central, to get people into housing and linked up with the right support. 
• At Auckland’s Port, we heard about just how much of an asset it is to the city and economy, the huge amount of people it employs, and its work to improve health and safety alongside the industry’s unions.

• We spent time with Hiringa Energy, who are revolutionising the heavy transport industry by producing green hydrogen. Visiting one of their filling stations was inspiring and reinforced that decarbonising transport is not just a goal but a reality already in progress. With new green hydrogen filling stations soon to be operational in Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, and Palmerston North, our big trucks will soon travel the North Island with zero emissions. The site in Wiri truly showcased the future of sustainable transport.
• Air Chathams is a small family business that employs South Auckland locals in highly specialised engineering and technical aeronautics roles. They talked us through the challenges for small players in New Zealand’s airline industry, and highlighted how a lack of competition sees passengers lose out as small routes shut down and prices go up.

• In the north of Auckland, we met with Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust. It was inspiring to hear about the mahi they’re doing in building state-of-the-art homes and supporting people into the housing market. Additionally, their efforts in eradicating marine pests and re-establishing ocean species are fostering a healthier and more prosperous ocean.
• We were given an incredible tour of Rocket Lab’s Auckland manufacturing site. Rocket Lab is a trailblazing, end-to-end space company delivering launch services, spacecraft, satellite components, and on-orbit management. Seeing the brilliance of this cutting-edge company up-close was both inspiring and impressive.
• Mindful Fashion NZ are an industry body helping to increase the inclusivity and sustainability of our fashion industry. We spoke to them about the huge contribution that local fashion and textile designers make to our economy and the prevalence of women in their creative workforce. 

We’re here to listen, and we’ll continue to talk to locals about:

• What they want for Auckland and their goals for the future
• How we can best support the city and everyone who calls it home
• The best ways to think ahead and address the big challenges moving forward

We would love to hear your priorities and aspirations for Auckland: click here to share the things you think should be front and centre for our Auckland team. 

This could include ideas for the city as a whole, or your particular neighbourhood, community group, or industry.

We understand it’s a difficult time for many, with National’s first Budget cutting back on support and services many Aucklanders rely on.

So far, this has included public transport becoming more expensive, $5 prescription charges returning for many, the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme being pared back, and less funding for public housing, healthy school lunches, climate action, community food providers and budgeting services. And that’s just the beginning.

As we plan ahead, we’re keen to hear from our health workers, teachers, families, students, workers, and communities about what you’d like us to prioritise as we stand up for our communities and stop the National Government from taking us even further backwards.

Add your voice: How can we make Auckland even better?

We’re committed to making sure that while we grow, we build sustainable infrastructure and inclusive communities, and increase safety and connectivity across the city.

Read more:

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In the Government’s scramble to sell their failed boot camps, we’ve had the Police Minister contradict the Prime Minister, officials correcting and warning Ministers, and a Children’s Minister missing in action, said children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime.

“It’s all a confusing mess as the Government trips over itself, and each other, to push through a tried and failed experiment.

“We heard Christopher Luxon confirm the Defence Force would have minimal involvement. Then we had Police Minister Mark Mitchell saying they’d actually be heavily involved. And now, most recently, Defence themselves have stated they won’t be staffing the camps.

“It’s becoming clearer by the day that no one wants their name attached to a project which will fail the people the Government insists it is helping.

“The Prime Minister has also said community groups have been involved since day one, which doesn’t match up with the many communities now speaking up against this baseless experiment.

“With only a few weeks until the pilot, it’s worrying to me that it looks like they’re still making things up as they go.

“And, nowhere to be seen in all of this is Children’s Minister Karen Chhour, who we’ve also heard is meant to be running this programme.

“Families and children across the country are relying on Karen to stand up for them. If she and Minister Mitchell can’t even organise who’s running their own boot camps experiment, what hope can New Zealanders have for them to deliver on their other promises?

“It’s disgraceful that after hearing experts, officials, and people working with children across the country resoundingly agree that boot camps are a bad idea – the Government have stubbornly dug their heels in further. 

“One has to wonder if the reason they’re not taking this seriously, is because deep down, they too don’t even think it’ll work – or in the Prime Minister’s own words ‘don’t care’,” said Willow-Jean Prime.

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“Funding and focus on mental health is welcomed by Labour,” says Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary.

“Today, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced substantial targets, but his announcement is predictably light on the details of how the targets will be reached.

“Workforce resource will greatly hinder delivery, particularly when Health New Zealand has a hiring freeze, and local GPs face a shortage of both funding and workforce numers.

“Promising 500 new mental health workers a year but failing to fund the 50 additional places for doctors to train at university as promised throughout the campaign period shows National doesn’t keep their word when it comes to health.

“It’s one thing to make these promises about mental health, but we need to make sure that they are delivered on, said Ingrid Leary.

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“It’s all well and good to want to ensure development opportunities, but unless the Government fronts with infrastructure money, councils are limited in what they can offer by ways of expansion,” says Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty.

“Labour is open to any measure that will lead to more housing and will lend support where it is likely to work, but not at the expense of building standards or loss of elite productive soil.

“There is an opportunity here, but the short-term thinking means it runs the risk of ending as a shambles. This shouldn’t be used as a way for the government to avoid difficult discussions about density or fronting up with funding.

“It may look good on paper but this announcement hasn’t been thought through, and the Government has again opened themselves up to being all talk,” Kieran McAnulty said.

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