Category: Labour Party

Labour is supercharging its plan to solve the public housing shortfall created by National, promising another 6,000 homes on top of what has already been committed says Labour Housing spokesperson Dr Megan Woods.

“Labour is the only major party with a deliverable plan that will help ensure every New Zealander has access to a warm, dry and affordable home,” Megan Woods said.

“In just six years we’ve delivered over 13,000 public homes, the most of any Government since the 1950s. We’ve also added over 4,000 transitional homes. We are on track to deliver 21,000 public and transitional homes by 2025 and there is more to come. If re-elected, we’ll deliver another 6,000 public homes by 2027.

“Labour wants to eliminate the public housing wait list. Delivering over 27,000 new public and transitional homes by 2027 is a significant step forward to achieving exactly that.

“Our government is proudly responsible for having delivered one in six public homes within New Zealand’s entire public housing stock – and we’ll keep going, building significantly more supply into our housing market.

“This is a stark contrast to National which left government with 1,500 fewer public homes than it started with, sucked out hundreds of millions in dividends and has reluctantly said it would complete the number of homes we’ve already funded. If National built public homes at the rate we are, there would practically be no public housing waiting list.

”National want to turn off the public housing tap yet again, with no further commitment for public housing beyond 2025. It’s yet another example of how National cuts investment in public assets like housing, hospitals and schools.

And worse, National will wind New Zealand backwards with their tried and failed housing settings which only made the housing crisis worse.

“After rebuilding a decimated public housing sector, and working closely with Community Housing Providers, Labour is delivering more public homes per year since the Nash Government of the 1950s.

“We will keep investing in this critical safety net, so more New Zealanders who need these warm, dry homes can get them.

“We will also expand the commitment we have already made for 15% of newly built public homes to be accessible with universal design, to 25% of all new public homes,” Megan Woods said.

Labour will back migrant working families by introducing a 10-year multiple-entry parents’ and grandparents’ Super Visa, and make good on the Dawn Raids apology by providing a one-off visa for overstayers who have been in the country ten years or more, Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little says.

• Make good on the Dawn Raids apology by providing a one-off regularisation programme for Pacific and other migrants who have been in New Zealand more than 10 years,
• New Super Visa for parents and grandparents to support their families in New Zealand,
• Establish a Government Policy Statement for immigration system to better align with skills shortages and need,
• Continue proven record on immigration rebalance to lift wages and fill workforce gaps.

“New Zealand is a place many want to call home. Labour wants to support migrant families by ensuring they have family support and legal certainty to call Aotearoa home,” Andrew Little said.

“Labour has built a balanced immigration system that strengthens our economy with decent jobs and higher wages, and provides more opportunities for families today and tomorrow.

“A re-elected Labour Government will introduce a 10-year multiple entry Super Visa that allows grandparents and parents of migrants to make successive visits of between 6 months and 5 years.

“This is about ensuring migrants, who can often be isolated and without support structures, have the family around them when they need it.

“Parents and grandparents will need to be financially supported by a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident child who is living here, and have medical and public liability insurance. We’ll also focus on clearing the backlog of Parent Residence Visa applications.

“Labour will also honour the Dawn Raids Apology with action.

“We’ll pass legislation in our first 100 days to deliver a one-off regularisation programme for well-settled overstayers who have been in New Zealand for 10 years or more.

“These people are part of New Zealand. In some cases they have been here for decades. They have family here, jobs and church.

“It’s only fair that children born in this country aren’t held back from making the most of their own lives, because of their parents’ irregular visa status. That is why regularisation will not be limited to any particular group, meaning people from all migrant communities will be able to apply.

“It’s time to put past discriminations behind us and fully bring into our society all those making a contribution.

“About 14,000 to 20,000 people could be eligible for regularisation, including every survivor of the Dawn Raids era who has never left the country. It means they will have rights at work and access to more government services like higher education,” Andrew Little said.

Labour will also continue to strengthen our immigration system in the following ways:

• Implement the Productivity Commission’s recommendation to publish a Government Policy Statement for the immigration system to provide certainty for all,
• Work to extend the Victims of Family Violence Work Visa to people whose partners are on temporary visas,
• Undertake a broader review of family and partnership immigration policy with an initial focus on culturally arranged marriages,
• Provide asylum seekers with adequate support services while their claims are processed and implement the refugee and migrant employment action plan,
• Continue to strive to eliminate migrant exploitation,
• Implement the review of the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme,
• Add a discreet rainbow subcategory to New Zealand’s existing annual refugee quota.

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Latest Police data shows monthly ram raids have hit a two-year low, laying waste to Christopher Luxon’s false claim that there are two ram raids a day says Labour’s Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen.

Data released today by Police shows a 70 percent reduction in ram raids from their peak of 116 a month in August 2022. By comparison there were 35 ram raids last month.

Ram raids have been trending down for the past three months, with 78 in May, 50 in June, and 42 in July.

“Since becoming Police Minister in March, I’ve focused on tackling the ram raid problem and these efforts are starting to turn a corner with the lowest number of ram raids per month in two years,” Ginny Andersen said.

“The number of ram raids per month is now at the lowest since September 2021.

“One ram raid is one ram raid too many. They cause immense destruction, trauma, and harm. We have more to do more, but our approach is starting to pay off.

“The circuit breaker programmes we’ve put in place have worked. As at September 2023, 77 per cent of the young people that have gone through them were not re-offending.

“By taking an evidence-based approach, Labour in Government has been able to turn around the lives of these young people and stop them from entering into a life of crime.

“This is in stark contrast to National’s failed boot camp experiment, where around 80% of children went on to reoffend.

“National’s own chief science advisor in Government Sir Peter Gluckman said that boot camps don’t work, and ‘scared straight’ programmes have been shown to increase crime.

“Christopher Luxon and National are more interested in stoking fear through misinformation than they are in providing solutions. Luxon’s false claim has already been called out by TVNZ fact checkers and is now being shown wrong, for a third month in a row, by Police data.

“National is ignoring the evidence, and ignoring their own advice, to try and sound tough on crime” Ginny Andersen said.

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Free and healthy school lunches will be here to stay if Labour is re-elected, guaranteeing food for our kids who need it most and significant cost saving for parents.

“Labour will commit $650 million to continue the programme at nearly 1000 schools and kura through the next term of Government,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins announced today.

“This is a programme we are incredibly proud of, and parents, principals, and teachers are all agreed on the benefits of kids learning on full tummies. Principals I meet with tell me this is a gamechanger for supporting kids’ wellbeing, attendance, and focus.

“Committing funding for free and healthy school lunches out to next term will give families and schools certainty that the programme is here to stay.

“We know that it’s tough for many families right now with the rising cost of living, which is why we’re prioritising programmes like free and healthy school lunches which save families $33 per week per child, or up to $1,250 per year per child on average.

“Labour has supported 25% of schools to give all their kids a healthy lunch every school day since 2020. These are the schools that face the largest socio-economic barriers to achieving in education – we know that if the programme wasn’t in place there would be many children who would go without.

“With the gaping hole in nationals tax plan, I am concerned that free and healthy school lunches will be on the chopping block to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

“ACT has already committed to scrapping the programme and could hold National to ransom on it – which would only leave parents having to find that extra $33 per child, per week.

“Equally, parents and schools have a right to know what a lunch under the National Party will look like. Will it be a piece of white bread and a glass of milk, or will they commit to continuing to feed kids healthy and nutritious lunches? Will parents suddenly have to opt-in, adding a stigma to the programme that could see many children go without?

“The National Party have proven time and time again that they can’t be trusted to fund education. Until they’re up front with New Zealanders and actually answer some questions about how they’ll pay for their tax cuts, New Zealanders have no reason to trust them – and our kids will be the ones to pay the price,” Chris Hipkins said.

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The next Labour Government will build a new hospital in Hawke’s Bay, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced.

This is part of Labour’s long-term commitment to rebuild health infrastructure throughout the entire country. It follows commitments to build new Hospitals in Nelson and Whangarei, where work has begun, and our commitment to delivering a new hospital in Dunedin, where construction is well underway.

“Labour inherited a health system suffering from years of underinvestment with many hospitals unable to provide the world class health services that New Zealanders deserve,” Labour leader Chris Hipkins said.

“Since 2017, this Government has invested nearly $45 billion in health, including a 771 percent increase in health infrastructure.

“A new hospital in Hawke’s Bay will be just the latest commitment Labour has made to New Zealanders health.”

“The current hospital in Hastings, built in 1927, is no longer fit for purpose and has seismic resilience issues,” Labour’s Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.

“At a cost of between $700m and $1.1 billion, the new hospital will be fully funded in Labour’s fiscal plan over the next decade.

“The business case will begin in Labour’s first 100 days.

“The community will be a key partner in the rebuild and today we are announcing the news that Hawkes’ Bay wants to hear: that it will be funded.”

“Building a new hospital will be the single greatest infrastructure project for the Hawkes’ Bay region,” MP for Tukituki Anna Lorck said

“I am thrilled that a re-elected Labour Government will deliver a new hospital for the people of Hawkes’ Bay. I made this a priority when I became an MP and I have advocated for this every day since.”

Work is already underway to upgrade facilities at the existing hospital to ensure the needs of the Hawkes Bay community can continue to be met over the next decade.

“This includes $68 million for the radiology facilities redevelopment, an expansion of surgical services and an angiography suite replacement,” Ayesha Verrall said.

“Work is also underway already on a district-wide clinical services plan to ensure needs can be met now and well into the future – this will feed into the new hospital project.

“I am proud of the massive rebuild programme Labour has underway to improve our hospitals, build new ones, and upgrade our health infrastructure.

“We simply cannot risk the Coalition of Cuts taking us back to a time where front line services were neglected, workers pay in real terms went backwards, and sewage ran down the walls of hospitals,” Ayesha Verrall said.

National and ACT’s tax plans don’t add up, and that means deep cuts to the public services New Zealanders rely on, says Labour Campaign Chair Megan Woods.

“Multiple expert economists have now confirmed the tax policy Christopher Luxon is pushing doesn’t add up and that National has no way to pay for their tax promises. It has now been 20 days since National refused to release its secret tax costings and they aren’t coming clean on what additional services they will have to cut.

“Today we’re launching our second television ad of the campaign, making sure New Zealanders know exactly the cuts National and ACT are promising, and what is at stake in this election.

“They’ve said they will cut free public transport for under 13s, they’ve said they will cut free prescriptions for many New Zealanders, they’ve promised to cut two years off many New Zealanders’ pensions, and they’ve outlined $6 billion worth of deep public service cuts – cutting funding from everything from courts which hold offenders to account, through to the Customs Service which protects our border. 

“And both National and ACT have said they will start to cut many hundreds of jobs just in time for Christmas.

“But this may just be the start. National may have to make even deeper public service cuts if they can’t make their numbers add up. And with multiple economists now saying they can’t, that means more cuts that Kiwis can’t afford.

“Christopher Luxon would have never been able to get away with hiding numbers from Air New Zealand’s board, so why is he hiding them from voters? 

“A National and ACT government would be a Coalition of Cuts. In this election, New Zealanders have a chance to stop the cuts before they start by giving their party vote to Labour,” says Megan Woods.

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National’s plan to cut policies that are reducing New Zealand’s climate emissions will result in a huge gap in the country’s emissions budgets and could see Kiwis paying significantly more at the petrol pump as a result of Christopher Luxon hiking the ETS price.

“Not content with a $2 billion dollar hole in their tax plan, National have a gap in their climate budget of millions of tonnes of pollution,” Labour Party Climate Change Spokesperson Megan Woods said.

“National will cut nearly every initiative that is reducing New Zealand’s emissions in order to fund their tax cuts. That will leave a hole in our emissions budget of millions of tonnes, for which we will need to buy billions of dollars of international credits, to meet our obligations under Paris Agreement signed by National.

“Ending the Clean Car Discount will set us back by nearly 3 million tonnes and stopping support to remove coal boilers from factories would likely see more than 3 million tonnes more.

“National will definitely miss New Zealand’s first emissions budget with those cuts. No policies they implement could have an impact quickly enough to make up the gap.

“Christopher Luxon’s preferred plan of relying on the ETS price going high enough to prompt action to reduce emissions will see the price of petrol go up.

“Official advice to the Government, and publicly available, shows relying on the ETS alone is the most expensive way to reduce emissions.

“Large emitters have told us the carbon price would need to go to $200 a tonne, which would equate to the cost of petrol rising by around 40 cents a litre, in order to replace the amount of emissions we are saving from deals to decarbonise industry. Relying on the ETS price rising puts the full cost on household budgets.

“It’s classic National; robbing Peter to pay Paul. Filling a 50 litre tank of petrol could go up around $20, more than what many households will get per week from National’s tax cuts,” Megan Woods said.

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Labour will double the number of houses with rooftop solar in New Zealand, lowering household power bills, reducing emissions and boosting renewable electricity generation.

• Up to $4,000 rebate to help New Zealanders install rooftop solar panels and battery to lower household power bills
• Households could save up to 50 per cent on bills or $850 annually
• $20 million boost for energy projects in local communities
• 1000 Kāinga Ora homes a year to be fitted with solar panels, reducing tenants power bills
• Continuing to lower emissions and make energy cheaper for all New Zealanders

“We need to increase renewable electricity generation by 68 per cent by 2050. Solar on roofs lowers bills, as well as generating electricity locally, reducing reliance on the grid,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“I am absolutely focused on lowering household costs at the same time as driving New Zealand to become a global powerhouse of renewable energy. This plan does both of those things.”

“We’ll boost New Zealand’s renewable energy production and make Kiwis’ power bills cheaper, through a fiscally responsible plan that contributes up to $4,000 towards installing rooftop solar panels at home – $2,000 towards the panels and $2,000 for a battery.

“There are well over 40 thousand New Zealand homes getting cheaper, clean electricity with rooftop solar – this will more than double that with approximately 60 thousand more rooftop solar systems.

“Experience from projects funded through our Community Renewable Energy Fund shows household solar panels can reduce energy bills by up to 50%. That’s a saving of up to $850 a year.

“This package of new measures builds on Labour’s plan to see New Zealand lead the world in renewable energy, creating jobs and protecting Kiwis’ power bills from international price volatility,” Chris Hipkins said.

Labour Energy spokesperson Megan Woods said the plan will also put $20 million of new funding towards community energy projects to help boost energy generation, and put more renewable energy back into the grid, helping to lower the overall cost of energy nationwide.

“That funding will see new pilot programmes like mini urban solar farms, which provide revenue to those with spare commercial roof space by installing solar panels which feedback into the grid, trialed before being rolled out wider,” Megan Woods said.

“We will also fit 1,000 Kāinga Ora homes a year with solar panels, which will give financial relief to some of our lower income families by reducing monthly energy bills.

“With Transpower forecasting a 68 per cent increase in electricity generation needed to meet demand by 2050 we need to boost New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity to provide greater economic security.

“By transitioning the bulk of our energy generation to renewable sources, like wind, solar and hydro in a fiscally responsible way, we can better protect New Zealanders from international pressures on energy prices like we have seen over the last two years with the war in Ukraine.

“With emissions coming down it’s clear Labour’s plan is working. Today’s announcement builds on the success of the Clean Car Standard and Discount which has increased EV uptake by 35 per cent since 2017. And the funding of the more than 1300 EV charges, one in almost every New Zealand town.

“It’s further to BlackRock’s $2 billion fund and the work of New Zealand Green Investment Finance to accelerate investment in innovative and dynamic companies, new technologies and significant projects that create jobs.

“We can either remain vulnerable to volatile global economic forces or follow Labour’s affordable plan that boosts energy production, reduces emissions, lowers energy bills, and positions New Zealand with a future proof economy,” Megan Woods said.

A re-elected Labour Government will continue its proud tradition of advancing women’s health, employment, and legal rights Spokesperson for Women Jan Tinetti said.

• Extend the age of free breast cancer screening from 69 to 74
• Implement a national endometriosis action plan
• Make cervical screening services free between the ages of 25 to 69 years, saving up to $100 in co-payments.
• Establish an innovation and entrepreneurship scholarship programme for low-middle income women
• Modernised consent law
• Introduce gender pay gap reporting

The commitments come in Labour’s first Women’s Manifesto and follow a proud tradition of advancing women’s rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, progress that is under threat by a change of Government.

“Labour is committed to creating a more equal society for all women. Every woman should have the opportunity to reach her full potential, regardless of her background or circumstances,” Jan Tinetti said.

“I’m incredibly proud that in the last six years Labour has delivered significant wins in women’s health, employment, justice, and financial standing. From abortion law reform to delivering pay equity settlements for over 150,000 people we are making progress.

“Our Women’s Package outlines our commitments to women in health, employment, pay equity, financial independence, entrepreneurship, and justice to continue our progress.

“Labour will work with business leaders to develop a for women by women innovation and entrepreneurship scholarship programme to lift entrepreneurial pathways for low-middle income women interested in running a small business.

“We have plans to deliver significant improvements to women’s health with a range of measures that target some of the most common health issues women experience.

“We will extend the maximum age of free breast cancer screening from 69 to 74, ensuring an additional 115,000 women can access the lifesaving screening programme.

“We will also make cervical screening services free between the ages of 25 to 69 years, saving up to $100 in co-payments. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and regular screening saves lives, so it is critical cost isn’t a barrier to accessing early detection

“We will develop and implement a national endometriosis action plan that will improve education about the condition and improve clinical management and care.

“We will continue our work to provide cost of living support, by removing discriminations that means women can lose entitlements.

“We will review how relationship status impacts benefit entitlements so single mothers aren’t disadvantaged when starting a new relationship. We will also keep funding Kiwisaver contributions while parents are on paid parental leave, and extend 20 hours free early childhood education to 2 year olds.

“These changes will mean women and mothers are better financially supported while raising their children.

“New Zealand has a proud history of progressing women’s rights. In two days we will celebrate the 130 year anniversary of women successfully campaigning for the right to vote in New Zealand. It’s important that as we celebrate this milestone, we look to the future of what we will do to continue this legacy.

“Under a Labour Government we’ve seen significant improvements in women’s earnings. We’ve grown women’s average weekly wage by 34.3% – 6.4% more than men’s wages and outpacing inflation at 23.1%.

“We have supported the introduction of paid miscarriage leave, rolled out free period products to schools across the country, removed abortion from the crimes act, and expanded ACC to cover birthing injuries.

“Labour has a proven track record of being the party that supports and values women. I’m proud of the work we have done and the commitments we’re making, and I believe that this suite of actions will ensure that New Zealand remains a world leader in women’s rights and gender equality,” Jan Tinetti said.

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A re-elected Labour Government will protect hard-fought workers’ rights and keep the momentum on wage growth to lift incomes for all New Zealanders, leader Chris Hipkins announced today.

• Progressively extend living wage to workers in Education and Health
• Reduce the gap between the living wage and minimum wage
• Scrap starting out and training minimum employment rates
• Modernise employment relations and protect collective bargaining
• Safeguard Fair Pay Agreements, sick leave, and restrictions on 90-day trials

“We will progressively move workers across health and education onto at least the living wage under a Government I lead,” Chris Hipkins said.

“Our health care assistants, caregivers, and school caretakers all play an important role in delivering our public services and should be better supported to have a decent standard of living.

“We’re investing in our frontline services and people, not cutting them.

“This builds on our delivery of the living wage to workers on contracts for cleaning, catering and security guards across the public service.

“Labour will also ensure the minimum wage is raised every year, closing the gap between the minimum and living wages.

“When Labour came into Government, the living wage was $20.20 per hour – almost five dollars an hour more than the minimum wage. Labour’s increases mean the current minimum wage was less than a dollar lower than the 2022/23 living wage.

“Lifting the minimum wage will support our lowest income earners and see wage growth continue upwards above the minimum wage too,” Chris Hipkins said.

Labour will support young workers to have meaningful and secure employment by repealing the starting out and training rates.

“Current legislation allows our youngest workers and our workers undertaking training to be paid less than the statutory minimum rate, even though they are often doing the same work as their colleagues.

“Only a small number of young people are employed using these lower wages and removing them will help to restore equity in our minimum wage system,” Chris Hipkins said.

“Worker’s rights are under threat this election as Christopher Luxon and David Seymour eye up a smorgasbord of cuts,” Labour Spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety Carmel Sepuloni said.

“Only a Labour government will safeguard fair pay agreements, where applications are currently progressing to improve pay and conditions for bus drivers, hospitality staff, early childhood teachers, port workers, cleaners and security guards.

“We have a proven track record of delivering for Kiwi workers, including increased sick leave, reintroduced meal breaks and increased paid parental leave.

“A re-elected Labour Government will build on worker’s rights by protecting the value of collective bargaining, better defining employees and contractors to protect vulnerable workers, and creating safer workplaces through better workplace violence support and education programmes.

“We are also committed to ensuring more Kiwis have access to training, through successful programmes like Mana in Mahi, Apprenticeship Boost and Flexi-Wage.

“Labour has always been the party that protects and boosts workers’ rights. The choice this election has never been starker as a National ACT coalition line up to cut workers’ rights, while we commit to boosting them,” Carmel Sepuloni said.

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