Category: Labour Party

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.

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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.

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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.

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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.

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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.

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The Government’s so-called mini budget is nothing more than a litany of distractions, delays and diversions which leave the country without any certainty or coherent economic plan, Labour Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson said.

“Today was a test for Nicola Willis as finance minister to finally reveal what her government was going to do and how they were going to pay for it. She has failed that test and left New Zealanders in limbo. How the government is going to pay for the inflationary tax cuts she has promised remains a mystery she refuses to solve.

“Her claims of self-funded cuts have been labelled a risk by Treasury, and her savings, cuts and project costs don’t add up.

“There is also no information today on the costs of the coalition agreements that Nicola Willis has agreed to. There are some large commitments in the agreements including funding for prisons, increased funding for IRD, Police, St Johns, aged care and more.

“New Zealand deserves the facts. Nicola Willis’ fictional narrative about the previous government consistently ignores the reports delivered by global ratings agencies and international organisations which credit the strength and resilience of our economy and have seen them increase or maintain their ratings.

“The facts are that the New Zealand economy is around 7 per cent larger than before COVID, unemployment has been at record lows, wages are rising and our debt levels are lower than most of the economies we compare ourselves too. It has been a tough year for New Zealanders with cost of living pressures as inflation peaked. But it is now on a downward track.

“It is farcical to claim that there are any surprises in the Government’s books which have changed little since PREFU in September.Just like every government there is a mixture of baseline and time limited funding in the Budget. In 2017 Labour inherited a large amount of time limited expenditure. It is up to the government whether that needs to be carried on or not in future Budgets.

Labour’s Kelvin Davis will resign from parliament effective from Waitangi Day 2024.

“Having been an MP since 2008, and now that we are no longer in Government it is time to move on to other opportunities,” said Kelvin Davis.

“I am proud of what we delivered during my time as Minister of Corrections, Children, Maori Education and particularly as Minister of Maori Crown relations.”

“Huge progress was made in making the government a better Treaty partner.”

“Although that progress is currently under threat with this new government, I leave knowing that our strong Labour team will hold the Coalition Government to account.”

“I want to acknowledge the support over the years from the people of Te Tai Tokerau, my whanau, all my staff and especially my staunchest supporters Kaye Taylor and her late husband Rudy.

“I look forward to new opportunities ahead of me.” Kelvin Davis said.

As Kelvin Davis is a List MP his resignation will not require a by-election. Dr Tracey McLellan is the next eligible person on the 2023 Labour Party List – she will return to Parliament in February.

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Labour’s Health Spokesperson Dr Ayesha Verrall joined health professionals and groups at Parliament’s steps today to receive a petition with over 45,000 signatures calling for the Government to stop its repeal of the Smokefree legislation.

“Today, standing side-by-side with many of our health professionals at Parliament in unison with further supporters in Auckland, we made a resounding call for the Government to come to its senses and stop its repeal of the Smokefree legislation,” said Dr Ayesha Verrall.

“It’s completely immoral this coalition Government are planning to repeal this legislation to pay for its tax cuts. The harms of tobacco on our communities and whānau are starkly clear, with evidence showing that the Smokefree legislation would save over 8,000 lives, extend Māori life expectancy and save about $1.3 billion in healthcare costs.

“The consequences of the National-led Government’s decisions are severe and may cost the economy billions as a result of health implications faced by working Kiwis, who may be forced to leave their jobs.

“Polling commissioned by Health Coalition Aotearoa shows that 67 percent of New Zealanders support our smokefree legislation. It goes without saying that New Zealanders value the lives of their whānau and don’t want to see them smoking, just so the wealthy few get tax cuts.

“The National Party did not campaign on this repeal at the election. New Zealanders were shocked by plans to scrap smokefree changes in a dirty deal done behind closed doors.

“Dr Reti cannot run from responsibility for this decision that takes our country and our health system backwards,” said Ayesha Verrall.

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Labour’s immigration spokesperson Phil Twyford is calling on the Government to follow the example of Australia and help New Zealanders’ close family members stuck in Gaza to escape and take shelter here. 

New Zealander Alya Hammad has written to Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters asking the Government to add the names of her non-Kiwi family members to a list of people being allowed to escape Gaza at the Rafah border crossing. It has been reported the NZ Embassy in Cairo told Hammad they can’t add her family to the New Zealand list without a directive from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“New Zealanders with family members trapped in Gaza will be distraught that their relatives are in an active war zone. The Government should help the families of Kiwis to get out, by putting their names on the list at the Rafah border crossing,” Phil Twyford said.

“The Government should also do what Australia is doing and provide visas so those family members, once they get out of Gaza, can come to New Zealand and shelter with family here.”

The Australian government has granted hundreds of temporary visas to Palestinians with family connections in Australia in the weeks since the bombing in Gaza began.

“We showed with the evacuation of Kabul that we can act decisively to save people at risk. And in the case of Ukraine we gave the family members of Kiwis who were in a war zone the chance to take shelter with their families in New Zealand. There is no reason the Government should not now do the same for the families of Kiwis stuck in Gaza,” Phil Twyford said.

“Ultimately, we want to see a just and lasting peace that recognises the existence and self-determination of Israelis and Palestinians. We encourage the parties to work to a two-state solution within secure and recognised borders where all citizens enjoy equal rights and freedoms.” 

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Labour’s strong line-up for the 54th Parliament brings experience and energy to the job of Opposition.

There are six women and four men in the top 10, it is a diverse line-up and the front bench includes portfolios like climate change and children.

“Our Labour Party team is highly experienced and energised and looking forward to getting back to Parliament,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“I am incredibly proud and humbled to have this team alongside me as we take up the important job of Opposition.

“The election didn’t go Labour’s way and we have work to do to make sure Kiwis know and feel that Labour backs them. I have absolute confidence our team will work with communities right across the country to build this support back.

“With the start this coalition has had, it’s clear New Zealanders will need an Opposition that stands up for their values and what is right.

“Unfortunately, we’ve already seen a lack of moral compass in the coalition’s approach.

“This Labour team doesn’t just have experience, it has values and cares about all New Zealanders – not just a few,” Chris Hipkins said.

SEE THE FULL LABOUR TEAM HERE

---

Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.