Category: New Zealand Labour Party

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.

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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.

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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.” 

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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

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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

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Figures showing National needs to find another $900 million for landlords highlights the mess this coalition Government is in less than a week into the job.

This comes on top of National’s tax plan already not adding up and the coalition needing more people to pick up gambling or smoking to help pay for tax cuts.

“Since the moment Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis announced their tax plans, we’ve seen right through all the holes in them,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“Bringing back foreign buyers was a terrible idea that we all knew didn’t add up – so it’s not surprising it fell at the first hurdle: coalition negotiations with Winston Peters.

“However it appears National are sticking with their plan, which not only includes getting more people gambling in order to raise revenue; they now want more young people to pick up smoking for the same reason.

“It’s not just shocking, but incredibly concerning that people’s health and wellbeing is worth less than a few extra dollars to National’s coalition.

“And it gets worse – with numbers out this morning from the Council of Trade Unions showing the interest deductibility in the coalition agreement between National and ACT is retrospective.

“It’s not just a tax oddity but means they’ll need to find hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for retrospective tax cuts for landlords who will do nothing to ease the pressure Kiwi tenants are facing from rising rental costs.

“It puts even more pressure on a budget that is already billions short.

“That revenue has to come from somewhere – if Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis are already comfortable increasing the number of people gambling and smoking, I loathe to think what they will come up with next.

“The Coalition of Chaos has had a shocking start with a growing fiscal hole, negative international media on the tobacco tax grab and Winston Peters extraordinary and baseless attacks on the media. Christopher Luxon needs to step up and sort it out,” Chris Hipkins said.

“On behalf of the Labour Party I would like to congratulate Christopher Luxon on his appointment as Prime Minister,” Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins said.

I wish Mr Luxon and his coalition partners well.

“New Zealand has been through some tough times but we are seeing the economy turning a corner, wages growing and climate emissions reducing. I hope this progress continues.

“I also encourage the new Government to commit to continue funding the public services that New Zealanders need and rely on.”

The New Zealand Labour Party is urgently calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to put a halt to the appalling attacks and violence, so that a journey to a lasting peace can begin, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“Along with other New Zealanders we are appalled by the devastation and loss of life. We recognise the grief of communities in New Zealand who have connections with those in the conflict,” Chris Hipkins said.

“We are urgently calling for a ceasefire. Israel and Hamas need to immediately ensure the conditions for a ceasefire are met and to commit to a lasting peace in the region.

“All parties need to act in accordance with international law and protect civilians. While we recognise the right to self-defence, we are particularly concerned that the actions of the Israeli Defence Force are disproportionate and indiscriminate.

“We also urge Hamas to release all hostages immediately and without condition and to be part of the process to work towards peace.

“We remain very concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict and the blockade preventing essential services reaching people in Gaza. We are calling on Israel to allow movement of supplies and all parties to support the departure of those who choose to leave.

“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.

“I want to acknowledge that this is an unusual period for New Zealand. While we wait for a government to be formed, we will continue to uphold the caretaker convention and as Prime Minister I will work within what can be agreed with the incoming government.

“However I speak today as the Labour Leader. I, and the Labour Party, cannot stand by any longer in the face of the horrific scenes we are witnessing without calling for a ceasefire,” Chris Hipkins said.

The Labour Caucus met today and confirmed that Chris Hipkins would remain Labour Leader, and Carmel Sepuloni would take over as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

Kelvin Davis chose not to seek the deputy leadership role, and Carmel Sepuloni was confirmed unanimously.

“I’d like to thank the new Caucus for continuing to put their trust in me,” Chris Hipkins said.

“I’d also like to thank Kelvin Davis for his service as deputy Leader over the past six years, and Carmel Sepuloni for putting herself forward. They are both excellent MPs, advocates for their communities and great leaders.

“It is an honour to lead the Labour Party and stand up for progress. We will be taking time to regroup, plan and prepare for the next Parliamentary term in Opposition,” Chris Hipkins said.

The endorsement of the leader is required under the Labour constitution within three months of a General Election.

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