Category: Labour Party

It is now certain that New Zealand ratepayers will pay higher rates with the Government confirming it has no plan to help councils deal with ageing water infrastructure, Local Government spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. 

“The Government’s confirmation today it will repeal the affordable water reforms will see higher rates for every ratepayer – up to 90 percent in some individual councils – in 30 years,” Kieran McAnulty said.

“The cost of fixing our broken water infrastructure is estimated at $185 billion over just three decades. It is simply irresponsible of National to ignore the problem.

“They’ve also ignored departmental advice that balance sheet separation is essential and despite promising during the campaign that they’d be able to deliver it, National have today proven what we’ve been saying all along: that they don’t get it and they have no plan. 

“Instead of helping councils deal with water infrastructure, they’re kicking it back on residents and homeowners and washing their hands of a problem that needs a long-term solution.

“Councils can’t do this by themselves, but this is exactly where the Government has left them – without any support.

“The current law would save households thousands each year, and National have yet again shown they don’t have any plan at all to ensure Kiwis have safe and affordable water in the long term. 

“At a time where families are already feeling a lot of pressure with the cost of living, this is going to be a kick in the guts,” Kieran McAnulty said. 

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The Government’s decision to make a tiny two per cent increase to minimum wage is simply not enough to help low wage families across the country. Families are set to struggle to cope with increasing costs of living, says Labour spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety Camilla Belich.

“This pathetic increase is beyond disappointing. As the price of goods and services continue to climb, the Coalition Government has chosen to turn a blind eye to our most vulnerable income-earners by not increasing minimum wage to a level in line with inflation,” Camilla Belich said.

“We understand official advice recommend an increase of four per cent, yet the Government has cruelly opted to go against this – resulting in a real wage cut for minimum income earners.

“In likely another effort to save face and give tax cuts to the wealthy, Brooke Van Velden is playing politics with the minimum wage and those paying for it will be our lowest paid families. Rises to the minimum wage so that it’s at least in line with inflation is essential. This drop in the bucket increase will only make it harder on New Zealanders who are struggling to put food on the table.

“A Labour Government has long stood by increasing the minimum wage annually at a rate that is sustainable and considers rising costs and inflation.

“This is another backwards step for New Zealand under this Coalition Government,” Camilla Belich said.

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National’s new police numbers will result in a deficit, leaving New Zealand Police shorter staffed, says Labour Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen.

“Today on TVNZ Breakfast Chris Bishop was unable to answer basic questions on his government’s police policy – like whether they will deliver 500 additional police on top of those currently funded, or whether they will simply train 500 police,” said Ginny Andersen.

“Police lose over 500 frontline officers a year due to retirement or departure from the force for other roles. If National are just going to deliver 250 police a year for two years as promised, New Zealand will have a notably reduced police force.

“National needs to urgently own up to whether they’ve tried to pull the wool over New Zealanders’ eyes again on their coalition promise of 500 new police over two years.

“This comes only days after it was revealed that the Government had quietly changed their coalition deal to deliver these new police officers from two years, to three, and then back to two, in a humiliating flip flop for Police Minister Mark Mitchell at the hands of New Zealand First.

“Not only are we seeing the Coalition Government run circles around each other as they battle to save face, this is the second time in only a week we’ve seen the impact that Nicola Willis’s public service cuts will have on police.”

“Mark Mitchell needs to front up and explain what promises he actually intends to keep,” Ginny Andersen said.

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Police Minister Hon Mark Mitchell has confirmed to Parliament today that National has walked away from one of their key coalition agreements on law and order.

“National’s coalition agreement with New Zealand First promises 500 new frontline Police within two years. Today Mark Mitchell walked away from that, confirming that it will be at least three years to deliver on this promise”, says Ginny Andersen.

“Nicola Willis’ public service cuts are already beginning to bite. This is yet another broken promise that makes a mockery of Mark Mitchell’s claim that he will restore law and order.

“Only in December, Mark Mitchell ‘absolutely guaranteed’ that there would be no cuts or reprioritisations to the Police budget in order to deliver on the promise of 500 more frontline Police in two years. Two months later the Minister of Police is desperately back tracking.

“National needs to be straight up with New Zealanders about what these promised tax cuts are actually going to cost us”, says Ginny Andersen.

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The New Zealand Labour Party is calling on the Government to press Israel to immediately implement the provisional orders of the International Court of Justice in the Gaza genocide case.

The ICJ directed Israel to allow sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza, ordered the State of Israel to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide, and to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson David Parker says the pressure must now go on Israel to comply with the Court’s directives.

“The New Zealand Government should also back the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. It is hard to imagine the Court’s order of humanitarian aid being implemented without an end to Israel’s military action.

“The ICJ orders are binding international law. Israel should comply, and its allies who supply them with funding and weapons are obliged under international law to help ensure compliance.

“It is notable that even the Israeli judge, Aharon Barak, supported the Court orders to prevent and punish incitement to genocidal acts, and to allow enough humanitarian aid to stop severe deprivation.

Parker reiterated his call for New Zealand to intervene in the South African case against Israel’s war by making legal submissions to the Court just as New Zealand did in the Ukraine-Russia case two years ago.

“Just as Israel should comply with the interim ruling without delay, Hamas should release all hostages.

“With two UN General Assembly resolutions and now the findings of the International Court of Justice, the international community has roundly condemned the scale of civilian deaths and suffering.

“The war must stop, and there must be a peace process to establish a free and independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.”

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Labour’s spokesperson for Corrections and Land Information Rino Tirikatene will resign from Parliament effective Sunday.

“In my twelve years, I’ve been privileged to serve in roles across Parliament and the Executive. I’ve chaired the Māori Affairs Committee, worked as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary, and served as a Minister. It’s time to reset and pursue new opportunities. I’m looking forward to the next chapter,” Tirikatene said.

“But I take the most pride and satisfaction from having served as the MP for Te Tai Tonga. Our Southern people amaze me. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the selflessness of our whānau who give everything to sustain our marae and communities and nurture the next generations.

“Our electorate underwent, and came through, a series of challenges from natural disasters, the Christchurch mosque attacks, to the Covid-19 pandemic, and each moment was demanding. But there’s no greater reward than assisting our whānau in need or simply providing a supportive word. That is the privilege of serving as an Electorate MP,” said Tirikatene.

“One of my proudest achievements was asserting the strength and independence of the Māori Affairs Committee. I was Select Committee Chair from 2017 to 2020. In that term, our Committee completed an inquiry into health inequities for Māori. This work helped lay the groundwork for an independent agency to protect and promote Māori health, and this eventually took shape in the form of Te Aka Whai Ora – the Māori Health Authority.

“And as Minister, I’m particularly proud of my work to advance New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreements and relationships (CPTPP, RCEP upgrade & PACER Plus) and the recognition of Māori and indigenous trade interests in FTAs.”

“But I reserve my defining legislative achievement for my own people. In 2022 I sponsored the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Act 2022, shepherding it through the House. That Act, drafted and enacted according to the wishes of the Canterbury Regional Council and Ngāi Tahu, reserves two seats on the regional council for tribal representatives. It was and remains a ground-breaking model. But the legislation and the model are under threat from the Coalition Government,” said Tirikatene.

“I leave Parliament with a warning for the Coalition: Te iwi Māori will not roll over. We are not going back in the box. If the Coalition unwinds the progress of the last six years, they risk a backlash that will make sure they are a one-term wonder.”

“I acknowledge the support over the years from my colleagues, my staff and especially my whānau.”

Tirikatene held Te Tai Tonga from 2011 to 2023. His grandfather, Sir Eruera Tirikatene, and his Aunt Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan also held the Southern Māori seat making Rino a third generation MP and Minister.

As Rino Tirikatene is a List MP his resignation will not require a by-election. Tracey McLellan will be sworn into Parliament in the first sitting week of 2024. Shanan Halbert is the next eligible person on the 2023 Labour Party List – he will return to Parliament in February following Kelvin Davis’ resignation late last year.

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Weekly expenses will grow for some of the most vulnerable people in New Zealand as public transport fares are set to rise under the Coalition Government. More than thirty percent of the population will be impacted by the scrapping of free and half price public transport fares, Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said today.

“The National-led Government is about to pile unnecessary financial pressure on 1.6 million young New Zealanders. Extra weekly transport costs will put pressure on some of the most in need people nationwide, including working families and students,” said Utikere.

“Removing this subsidy will only mount further burdens on students, pressured families and working Kiwis, who will all be ultimately paying the price of National’s tax cuts for mega-landlords.

“The Labour Government made free and half-price fares for young Kiwis permanent to give them one less worry as they went about their daily lives – be it attending school, helping them get to work, or simply just getting around town.

“This backwards step joins a scrapheap of cuts by this Government, which includes scrapping universal free prescriptions, free early-childhood-education for under-two-year-olds and the electric vehicle exemption from road user charges.

“This only further proves that any talk of tax cuts are an empty promise with the rising costs that National are placing on New Zealanders.

“Whānau are already balancing much on their plates – this Government’s unhealthy obsession with cutting relief for those most in need is completely unacceptable.

“We’ve launched an online petition and are calling for Kiwis to take a stand against this unfair removal and stop the Government from making the lives of New Zealanders that much harder,” said Utikere.

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Weekly expenses will grow for some of the most vulnerable people in New Zealand as public transport fares are set to rise under the Coalition Government. More than thirty percent of the population will be impacted by the scrapping of free and half price public transport fares, Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said today.

“The National-led Government is about to pile unnecessary financial pressure on 1.6 million young New Zealanders. Extra weekly transport costs will put pressure on some of the most in need people nationwide, including working families and students,” said Utikere.

“Removing this subsidy will only mount further burdens on students, pressured families and working Kiwis, who will all be ultimately paying the price of National’s tax cuts for mega-landlords.

“The Labour Government made free and half-price fares for young Kiwis permanent to give them one less worry as they went about their daily lives – be it attending school, helping them get to work, or simply just getting around town.

“This backwards step joins a scrapheap of cuts by this Government, which includes scrapping universal free prescriptions, free early-childhood-education for under-two-year-olds and the electric vehicle exemption from road user charges.

“This only further proves that any talk of tax cuts are an empty promise with the rising costs that National are placing on New Zealanders.

“Whānau are already balancing much on their plates – this Government’s unhealthy obsession with cutting relief for those most in need is completely unacceptable.

“We’ve launched an online petition and are calling for Kiwis to take a stand against this unfair removal and stop the Government from making the lives of New Zealanders that much harder,” said Utikere.

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The New Zealand Labour Party is calling on the Government to participate in the legal action being led by South Africa regarding Israel’s acts of war in Gaza, Labour spokesperson for Foreign Affairs David Parker said today.

“Last month an overwhelming majority of countries, including New Zealand, voted at the United Nations for an immediate ceasefire, but Israel has shown no intention of letting up. Some Ministers in the Israeli government are continuing to call for Palestinians to be ejected from their own land,” David Parker said.

“South Africa has taken allegations of genocide in Gaza to the International Court of Justice, a claim which Israel denies. The International Court of Justice is the appropriate body to investigate and determine whether the Genocide Convention has been breached, and whether the international laws relating to war are being breached.

“New Zealand under the former Labour Government ‘intervened’ in the recent genocide case between Russia and Ukraine at the International Court of Justice and made legal submissions to support the Court in its deliberations. New Zealand should do the same now for Gaza.”

David Parker said the Government should also support the “interim measures” that South Africa seeks to immediately cease hostilities as part of its case.

“This is the world’s best and most immediate opportunity to stop the killing in Gaza. If the International Court of Justice decides in favour of the interim measures, their finding would then be considered by the UN Security Council. If Israel ignored a Security Council directive to cease hostilities, it would open itself up to UN sanctions.

“The carnage in Gaza must end. Many of the Israeli public are distressed by the accusations at the International Court of Justice. Many also see an end to hostilities is the only way the hostages will be released, and pressure on the Netanyahu to end the fighting is real.”

The International Court of Justice will begin consideration of these interim measures later this week. It is expected the ICJ’s consideration of the genocide claim could take up to two years or more.

South Africa, Israel and New Zealand are all members of the International Court of Justice.

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The New Zealand Labour Party is calling on the Government to participate in the legal action being led by South Africa regarding Israel’s acts of war in Gaza, Labour spokesperson for Foreign Affairs David Parker said today.

“Last month an overwhelming majority of countries, including New Zealand, voted at the United Nations for an immediate ceasefire, but Israel has shown no intention of letting up. Some Ministers in the Israeli government are continuing to call for Palestinians to be ejected from their own land,” David Parker said.

“South Africa has taken allegations of genocide in Gaza to the International Court of Justice, a claim which Israel denies. The International Court of Justice is the appropriate body to investigate and determine whether the Genocide Convention has been breached, and whether the international laws relating to war are being breached.

“New Zealand under the former Labour Government ‘intervened’ in the recent genocide case between Russia and Ukraine at the International Court of Justice and made legal submissions to support the Court in its deliberations. New Zealand should do the same now for Gaza.”

David Parker said the Government should also support the “interim measures” that South Africa seeks to immediately cease hostilities as part of its case.

“This is the world’s best and most immediate opportunity to stop the killing in Gaza. If the International Court of Justice decides in favour of the interim measures, their finding would then be considered by the UN Security Council. If Israel ignored a Security Council directive to cease hostilities, it would open itself up to UN sanctions.

“The carnage in Gaza must end. Many of the Israeli public are distressed by the accusations at the International Court of Justice. Many also see an end to hostilities is the only way the hostages will be released, and pressure on the Netanyahu to end the fighting is real.”

The International Court of Justice will begin consideration of these interim measures later this week. It is expected the ICJ’s consideration of the genocide claim could take up to two years or more.

South Africa, Israel and New Zealand are all members of the International Court of Justice.

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