Category: New Zealand Labour Party

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.

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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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The Government is making another backwards step for education that will leave students behind, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said.

“Erica Stanford is hellbent on a one size fits all education system. National Standards have failed students before, going back to standardised testing is taking us down the same path,” Jan Tinetti said.

“National does not seem to have any care for students who are falling behind. They’ve scrapped one-on-one literacy support through Reading Recovery. Just making all students sit the same test to get aggregate data at an oversight level won’t help the kids that are struggling.

“It will only work if it’s followed through with interventions to pick up students who need a bit more help. We have not heard from the Government its plan for making sure that happens, instead it has made cuts to intervention programmes and did not give learning support any additional funding in this year’s budget.

“I’m increasingly worried that we are being taken backwards by a Minister that is going too far too fast, without strong evidence or input from schools and teachers. The curriculum shouldn’t be a political football and changed every three years.

“Forcing children to do an hour each of reading, writing and maths every day isn’t going to make them enjoy it or learn better, and more intensive testing isn’t going to make school a place they want to be.

“It looks like another step by National to bring back its failed experiment of National Standards. It’s just buzz words and sound bites to paper over the cracks in Erica Standford’s and Christopher Luxon’s understanding of what is happening in our schools,” Jan Tinetti said.

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National has come up with yet another way to make driving a car more expensive – this time adding more costs to sit a driver licence, Labour transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said.

“The Government is already upping vehicle registration by $50. This driver’s tax is on top of a 12c increase to fuel tax set to hit all at once in 2027, and scrapping the clean car discount which made it cheaper to buy electric vehicles.

“Now Simeon Brown is coming after new drivers, bringing back the $89 re-sit fee,” Tangi Utikere said.

“Labour removed the fee to re-sit your licence to make it easier for people to get on the road safely and support more people into work.

“With around half of New Zealanders having to re-sit when trying for their licence, this extra fee will put pressure on tight budgets.

“Ensuring people have a licence and the correct skills to be driving on the roads make the roads safer for everyone. It also increases a person’s employment prospects.

“What good is spending almost the entire transport budget on roads, when people won’t be able to afford to drive on them,” Tangi Utikere said.

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The National Government must completely overhaul the Fast Track Approvals Bill to put protection of the environment at the centre of its purpose.

“Any developments approved under the Bill must work with nature, not against it,” Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said.

The Government said yesterday it will make decisions on the final design of the Fast Track Approvals Bill in the next few months, incorporating sensible changes suggested through the select committee process.

“Working with nature is the most sensible change needed in this Bill. Protecting the environment from destructive development should be included in the purpose of any consenting process. The Bill in its current form could destroy our natural environment, allow climate-polluting industries to expand, and see affected communities locked out of the process.

“We’ve heard from concerned New Zealanders repeatedly that this Bill will hurt the natural environment and communities for generations, and that it must be stopped.

“Labour brought in a fast track consenting process that works with nature not against it, to approve sustainable development such as renewable energy projects, housing and infrastructure. We have several renewable energy projects consented already.

“We do not need new coal mines, and we definitely do not need new coal mines on conservation land, in kiwi habitat.

“There are other problems with the Bill in its current form – locking communities and iwi out of the process, Ministers having the final say on projects, and the potential for projects that have previously been declined, like Te Kuha mine, to be approved under this piece of legislation without any regard for the native species it could affect. New Zealanders need to know if this is the case as under the fast track process, they won’t have a chance to voice their concerns.

“The National Government is making a choice to prioritise short term, potentially environmentally damaging projects like coal mines, without any input from the communities they will affect long term,” said Rachel Brooking.

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Correspondence released under the Official Information Act reveals the Government’s boot camp concept is not backed by the military that is expected to run it.

The New Zealand Defence Force will not staff military-style boot camps for youth because it will put its personnel’s safety and wellbeing at risk, Labour’s children spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

Newly released documents show the NZDF warned the Government that military-style training does not work for complex participants and has previously resulted in serious mental harm of staff, and an increase in physical assaults on defence personnel.

“NZDF has made it clear that new military style academies should not be likened to its Limited-Service Volunteers (LSV) programme as they are eight-week courses run for people wanting to get jobs, not custodial sentences for offending youth.

“Yet, the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet persist with their references to the LSV programme as one that ‘works’, despite the office of the Chief of Defence writing to Defence Minister Judith Collins asking for the Government to correct this inaccuracy.

“It would seem Christopher Luxon’s Cabinet has a communications issue, as ministers continue to use LSV as though it is how the Government’s boot camp dream will be brought to life.

“Just last week the Prime Minister said he doesn’t care about what people say about whether boot camps work or not – he wanted to try something different. Well, perhaps he will listen to those with experience, and make the call to stop the nonsense once and for all.

“We know boot camps did not work in the past. Sending these children to boot camps, most of whom have experienced abuse and suffered deep trauma, could cause further harm. The LSV was not designed for children.

“This isn’t a new idea, it’s failed before and it risks failing again,” Willow-Jean Prime said.

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False promises and political spin won’t save National today, as the much-touted July 1 changes will hit Aucklanders’ pockets for the first time.

“Prescription fees, higher rates, expensive public transport, additional road tolls and increases to vehicle registration are just some of the charges set to make things harder for those struggling in Tāmaki Makaurau,” Labour Auckland issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert said.

“Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown is playing revenge politics and Aucklanders are going to foot the bill. It’s short sighted and unfair of the Government.

“Simeon Brown is failing on every measure – reducing congestion, addressing youth crime, climate resilience and cost of living. This Minister has given up on this portfolio and refuses to stand up for Auckland.”

“He hasn’t taken any Auckland specific papers to Cabinet, the city wasn’t a priority during the first 100 days, and it is MIA on this quarter’s ‘to-do’ list. We’ve seen nothing but Simeon Brown asking Aucklanders for more money for six months now.

“The reality is the people of Auckland are tired of hearing about the cost-of-living crisis, and want it fixed. Adding new fees and payments, on top of rates and groceries is not the answer. Aucklanders need immediate help.

“Boasting about removing a fuel tax that will leave a $1.2 billion hole in the city’s infrastructure fund is beyond ridiculous. We need to find a solution and have a Minister for Auckland that isn’t asleep at the wheel,” Shanan Halbert said.

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The Government is risking the wellbeing of vulnerable children across Aotearoa who benefit from services like counselling, intensive family support, parent programmes and early intervention, as they claw back funding.

“Children in care have often experienced significant trauma and chaos in their lives. Taking away activities and support that help them to heal is cruel and heartless,” Labour’s children spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

“In the May Budget, National cut $120 million in funding for frontline providers. These are programmes that offer therapy and companionship for children – many who’ve suffered from family harm, neglect and trauma.

“These providers do incredible and highly sensitive work with tamariki, helping them navigate distressing experiences, while keeping them out of harm’s way.

“These cuts come as Oranga Tamariki has said there already isn’t enough money to meet the needs they’re seeing every day.

“ACT’s Karen Chhour has chosen to go ahead with these reckless cuts, despite the detrimental effect on the frontline.

“I am hearing from many in the sector who are anxious about whether they can continue to meet the needs of kids in their community.

“Karen Chhour must stand up for these children and whānau who rely on these services to get through the week.

“I truly worry about the harmful consequences to come if the Government continues to ignore this need,” Willow-Jean Prime said.

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