Category: New Zealand Labour Party

The people of Dunedin have won in an almost year-long battle to have their hospital confirmed, but National’s delays have cost dearly.

“Though there are fewer beds than originally planned, this is a win for the people of the Southern region,” Labour health infrastructure spokesperson Tracey McLellan said.

“We have always said there is money to pay for this hospital, and the announcement today proves National was trying to make savings at the cost of good healthcare for the Southern region.

“Together we have fought hard against National’s attempts to scale back New Dunedin Hospital. The people of the Southern region deserve a state-of-the-art hospital that meets their needs now and into the future.

“According to one estimate, the Government’s poor negotiation and delays cost $100,000 per day while it sat still. This is money that should have been spent improving healthcare.

“The building of the new hospital, which Labour began and paid for, falls short of the promises National made during the election campaign, but it is the best of a bad situation.

“We’ll be watching closely to make sure this Government actually delivers on their promise and doesn’t try to cut corners down the line, both in Dunedin and at other hospitals which they said were threatened by the Dunedin project,” Tracey McLellan said.

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Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily.

“In August last year, Karen Chhour was calling frontline service providers “disgruntled” and accusing them of using Oranga Tamariki as a “cash cow,” Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

“I hope that she has taken the summer break to reflect on those comments. Frontline service providers have some of the hardest jobs, and they deserve certainty, not name-calling.

“Many vulnerable children and whānau have relationships with these providers and they do the kind of work that can be incredibly difficult, but can change lives.

“It is a relief to see some contracts have been extended out to the end of the year. While this provides immediate relief, it does not fix the uncertainty that many children and whānau face if providers’ funding is not continued.

“It appears Karen Chhour has woken up to the absolutely vital services that are provided on the frontline. Now she must ensure that support continues beyond the end of the year,” Willow-Jean Prime said.

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It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging.

“This Government slashed school lunch funding and handed the job to a global corporation instead of supporting local suppliers—now kids are stuck with worse meals,” Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said.

“Their choice to prioritise cuts over proper nutrition for our kids is a disgrace.”

Parents and teachers have been sharing stories of inferior meals that kids could not eat, meals arriving hours after they were needed, and mislabelled packaging.

A Cabinet Paper in March 2024 informed the Government that changes to the school lunch programme would risk achievement, attendance, nutrition, and wellbeing of children, as well as having wider impacts on reducing child poverty. They made these changes anyway.

“Sadly, this was entirely predictable. Instead of investing in children’s nutrition and supporting local food suppliers, this government chose cost-cutting ahead of quality,” Jan Tinetti said.

“Proper nutrition is essential for kids to focus and learn. Rather than showing leadership and prioritising our kids’ wellbeing, Christopher Luxon followed David Seymour’s reckless advice and chose cuts over quality. As an educator, I have heard similar horror stories from my former colleagues, and I am deeply concerned that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“Children should not have to suffer because of the Government’s poor choices,” Jan Tinetti said.

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The National Government’s big talk on combatting the exploitation of migrant workers has been exposed as a sham today.

“Hardly a week goes by without shocking new cases of migrant workers being exploited by unscrupulous employers. It beggars belief the Government only prosecuted four cases in the courts over one year,” Labour immigration spokesperson Phil Twyford said.

MPs were told in select committee today that there were 3,925 reports of exploitation called in by the public, and 812 investigations – however only four prosecutions.

“It is simply not good enough that all these reports and investigations resulted in only four prosecutions. The Government should be throwing the book at employers who are treating vulnerable migrant workers shamefully and putting New Zealand’s international reputation at risk,” Phil Twyford said.

“The public is tired of seeing cases of migrant workers arriving in New Zealand to find the job they were promised doesn’t exist, or cases of under-payment of wages, sub-standard accommodation, and other scams.

“Erica Stanford talked a big game on migrant worker exploitation while in Opposition. Since becoming Minister she has cut by half the amount of time an exploited migrant worker can get a temporary visa to allow them to find another job, get justice at the employment tribunal or get another visa.

“Now it turns out the compliance response to dodgy employers ripping off migrant workers is on a go-slow as well. It’s time Erica Stanford followed the advice in her own press releases and cracked down on the exploitation of migrant workers,” Phil Twyford said.

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Any road deaths as a result of increased speed limits will now be on the Government’s hands.

“Where it is safe to do so, we do not oppose raising speed limits. However, the Government’s making many of these changes based on a campaign promise, rather than evidence,” Labour’s transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said.

“We know this, because the previous Transport Minister encouraged National Party supporters to submit on his own bill. He was not interested in the opposing views of safety campaigners.

“I would like to see the evidence that it is safe to raise speed limits on these roads, not the National Party opinion that it is.

“It is an absolute tragedy that we go into every long weekend expecting a road toll. It should not be normal for Kiwis to lose loved ones to people driving too fast.

“While we do not oppose travelling at faster speeds on roads where it is safe to do so, I do remain concerned about the potential for more deaths on the roads as a result of these changes,” Tangi Utikere said.

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is misleading the public by falsely claiming the economy has been in recession for three years.

“Let’s set the record straight: National’s economic mismanagement has caused a recession that began after they took office,” Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth, which has been the case for the last two quarters where official data is available.

“Trying to claim the economy was in recession when it wasn’t is frankly embarrassing for a Prime Minister.

“Recession indicators are easily verifiable from official sources, so for Luxon to make such an uninformed comment is truly mind boggling. Either Nicola Willis isn’t briefing him, or he’s not listening to her – either way it’s dysfunctional.

“Instead of taking responsibility and presenting a real plan to grow the economy, they are trying to rewrite history.

“New Zealanders deserve honesty and leadership, not excuses and spin,” Barbara Edmonds said.

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In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis.

“The fact that Nicola Willis is offering benefits to visitors that she won’t even allow New Zealanders, shows exactly where her priorities lie,” Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

“I don’t have a problem with tweaks here and there so we can ensure we have good investment in New Zealand, but I do have a problem with Nicola Willis’ double standards.

“National is choosing to prioritise visitors to New Zealand, instead of tackling the urgent challenges facing Kiwis today. Nicola Willis doesn’t even know how many people will benefit from these changes or have an estimate as to how much our economy would grow.

“With rising rents, workforce shortages, and businesses crying out for more support, this announcement shows a lack of focus on the real issues affecting our economy.

“With one hand she’s begging foreigners to come here to work from home, while implementing strict policies on Kiwi public servants to stop them from doing the same.

“We need real long-term solutions for economic growth that provides the jobs of Kiwis, not a short-term sugar hit,” Barbara Edmonds said.

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There are still struggles ahead with rising rents, rates, insurance and high unemployment, despite today’s inflation data.

“Despite inflation easing globally, National has failed to steer our economy out of trouble, leaving families worse off,” Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

“New Zealand is now in the deepest recession in 30 years, with unemployment rising, and thousands of Kiwis leaving the country every month.”

The latest data shows domestic inflation remains high, squeezing Kiwi families and those out of work under this government, even further.

“Nicola Willis is taking credit for global inflation trends, but domestically high rent, which has increased by 4.2%, and local authority rates, up 12.2% continue to bite. Rents have increased despite the Prime Minister’s continued promises to Kiwis they wouldn’t,” Barbara Edmonds said.

“Under National, 77,900 Kiwis have left the country in the past year. Nearly half of professionals surveyed for the recruiting agency Robert Walters said that they are planning to move to Australia.

“Ironically, Nicola Willis has been given a new job to grow the economy after spending a year shrinking it. As Finance Minister she led disastrous frontline cuts that hurt families and our economy, and now she’s doubling down as Minister of Economic Growth. It’s like putting out a fire with a can of petrol.

“It’s not just families feeling the squeeze. Small businesses are reeling under this Government’s failed policies. Last year, 2500 businesses went under – representing a 10-year-high and nearly 700 more than in 2023.

“Labour’s focus is on rebuilding an economy that works for all Kiwis. National has had over a year to deliver results, and instead, they’ve deepened the recession and let opportunities slip away. It’s time for leadership that invests in jobs, skills, and the future, not cuts and excuses,” Barbara Edmonds said.

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National’s Cabinet reshuffle is a futile attempt to turn around a failing government.

“This reshuffle is just rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. The Government is failing miserably at managing health, economy, race relations, climate – you name it. A reshuffle isn’t going to change that,” Labour leader Chris Hipkins said.

“If anything, putting Simeon Brown in as health minister is another blow to New Zealand’s faith in their health system,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.

“Replacing Dr Shane Reti as health minister after only one year shows what a mess they’ve made of the health system.

“Dr Reti is a decent man who never stood a chance because of the budget he was given. Recruitment freezes, cuts to frontlines services and other budget cuts have left New Zealanders with little trust that they will get the care they need.

“It’s only going to get worse under Simeon Brown, who will have to demonstrate he cares about people and not just roads. He’ll have to prove to New Zealanders his purpose is to improve equitable access to health services for everyone, not to cut the health service back to bare bones,” Ayesha Verrall said.

Chris Hipkins said, “Giving Nicola Willis a new portfolio of ‘economic growth’ begs the question of why she hasn’t been focussed on that all along. What Minister of Finance doesn’t focus on economic growth?

“Appointing the most junior minister in the Government as Minister for the South Island, who doesn’t even sit around the Cabinet table, once again shows the utter contempt this government has for the mainland.

“National’s reshuffle demonstrates what New Zealanders already know – that Christopher Luxon’s inexperience and inept leadership are taking New Zealand backwards,” said Chris Hipkins.

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Ka kohukohu te awa o Whanganui!
Ka tau te kākahu taratara ki runga I te maunga o Whānau Ora!
Ka tangi hotuhotu tō iwi Māori!

The Labour Party is sad to learn of the death of Dame Tariana Turia.

“Dame Tariana was a true leader, the very definition of a wāhine toa,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“She had a strong legacy of service before her parliamentary years, advocating for Māori health, working hard to pave the way for many.

“Through her life, Dame Tariana gave a loud voice to those who were historically and wrongly heard less, particularly those in the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate.

“Dame Tariana was a driving force within the Labour Party in the mid-nineties, and took up roles as an Associate Minister when Labour came to Government in 1999 with the Māori Affairs, Housing, Social Services, and Health portfolios.

“In 2002, Dame Tariana became Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Associate Justice Minister.

“Dame Tariana contributed greatly through the course of successive governments, and her relentless commitment to the betterment of Māori and the upholding of Te Tiriti was beyond admirable.

“The creation of Whānau Ora changed the course of history for many, and the results of Dame Tariana’s spear heading of that work will ripple for decades to come.

“The Labour Party sends condolences to Dame Tariana’s many whanau. May she rest now, with her loving husband George,” Labour leader Chris Hipkins said.

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