Category: transport

The latest shocker to come out of David Seymour’s school lunches is an insect being found in a student’s meal.

“Just when we thought David Seymour’s school lunches couldn’t get any worse – he surprises us with a new low,” Labour’s education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

“First it was exploding lunches, then frozen lunches, then it was plastic and glass, now it’s a bug. This is an insult to our students. Our children deserve better than this.

“David Seymour promised all issues would be fixed come start of Term 2, but they’re not.

“New Zealand Food Safety must be thorough in its investigation into this as finding an insect in a school lunch is an appalling further drop in standards.

“If David Seymour’s shocking track record on school lunches is anything to go by, once he becomes Deputy Prime Minister we’re in for some more nasty surprises,” Willow-Jean Prime said.

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National’s cuts to Nelson’s Hospital rebuild will leave the community with only half the number of new beds than the rebuild Labour planned.

“I’m worried that National’s downgraded plan won’t meet the needs of patients and we’ll soon be back where we started, with the hospital needing to be upgraded in a few years,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.

While in Government, Labour announced $73 million for the first tranche of a major redevelopment of Nelson Hospital, to progress plans for an acute services and in-patient building with 255 beds, eight theatres and a larger emergency department. This would amount to an increase of 92 beds.

“This Government is downgrading what the community needs by only building 41 new overnight and surgical beds and removing five beds from other units.

“They’re spending half the money for half the hospital.

“What other corners will have to be cut to build Nelson Hospital and others around the country, when there is only $1 billion net new money for health capital projects in the Budget?

“That money is not enough to ensure our hospitals are fit for purpose for a growing and ageing population. We will see more corners cut for builds in Nelson and across the country, leaving future generations to pick up the tab,” Ayesha Verrall said.

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The National Government has cut $1 billion from the emergency housing budget on the false pretence that demand is reducing, while also ending contracted emergency housing from December this year.

“The Government promised New Zealanders that those in genuine need would get access to emergency housing but the Budget shows they simply have no intention of providing it,” Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said.

“The Government is trying to kid the country in to thinking that this is an area they can save money because the need isn’t there.

“It is a lie, borne out of the need to fill gaps in the Budget.

“Homelessness is increasing at unprecedented levels and frontline providers say things have never been so bad. Before this budget, homelessness had already grown by 40 percent in Wellington. Lord knows how high it is projected to grow, and how fast because of this budget.

“New Zealanders need to ask themselves a pretty simple question – do they trust the Government who need to make cuts to make their budget add up, or frontline providers who are seeing homelessness increase every day?

“Ending contracts without a clear alternative for where people will go is a disgrace. Housing is a human right.

“Make no mistake – families will be living on the street because of this decision today,” Kieran McAnulty said.

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The Government should hang its head in shame after a budget that takes a knife to more Māori programmes.

“In Budget 2024 more than $300 million was cut from Māori specific initiatives – Te Arawhiti, The Māori Health Authority, and Māori TV. Budget 2025 cuts even deeper with around $750 million cut from Māori Housing, Māori economic funds, Māori Education and programmes like Māori trades training,” Māori Development spokesperson, Willie Jackson said.

“Over the two budgets, Tama Potaka has now slashed more than $1 billion of Māori specific funding and that is shameful.

“Louise Upston has also made the shameful choice to stop funding Māori trade training when Māori unemployment has risen to 10.5 percent, with no plan to support Māori into meaningful jobs.

“The biggest hit is in Māori housing. Whai Kainga Whai Oranga and the whole Māori housing programme has been scrapped. In total $624 million has been wiped from the books.

“Tama Potaka is ignoring the housing data showing Māori are in the most need and has chosen to wash his hands of Māori housing.

“This government is providing a mere $3 million per year worth of new funding for Māori Wardens and the Māori Women’s Welfare League – yet has increased its ministerial budget for international travel by $2 million per year.

“At the same time, David Seymour is introducing his Regulatory Standards Bill under urgency that extinguishes more Māori rights, cementing this government’s lack of care towards Māori.

“This government has proven once again that it has turned its back on the Māori-Crown relationship,” Willie Jackson said.

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Despite all the promises, Kiwis are still going backwards in Budget 2025.

“Kiwis do not feel like they’re getting a fair deal under National,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

“They have cut $11 billion from women’s pay and cut KiwiSaver contributions.

“As a result of Nicola Willis’ cuts to Kiwisaver, an 18-year-old today will have $66,000 less at retirement age than they would have if the Finance Minister had any foresight.

“Some families will no longer get BestStart, which helps families buy a can of formula and a box of nappies each week. On top of that, 61,000 families will now be worse by an average of $43 per fortnight.

“It’s not just tough for families with newborns. Food prices are still climbing, including staples like milk, butter and meat.

“Rates and insurance have gone up. Energy prices are high. People aren’t getting the support they were promised with childcare.

“Unemployment is scheduled to rise. Thousands of people have lost their jobs under National and are choosing to head overseas.

“The cost of living remains as high as ever. Nobody can find a family that got the $250 they promised in the last Budget, not even the finance minister.

“No matter the spin, help is not on the way for families. In fact, at first glance the only increase some families are getting is $7 a week.

“Nicola Willis’ flagship cost of living policy is a disgrace. There are tens of thousands of people she said would get support with childcare, but aren’t; and a quarter of the money she’s spent on it has gone to administration, not childcare.

“Instead of investing in good jobs so people can work and support their families, reliable healthcare and warm, dry homes, this Government has chosen tax cuts for landlords, multinationals, and tobacco companies. Today, overseas oil and gas giants have been promised $200 million too.

“Nicola Willis is taking money from low paid women and families, to make all of her failures add up,” Barbara Edmonds said.

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Today’s Budget is a masterclass in making the wrong decisions for New Zealanders.

“After a year of job cuts, now we are on to pay cuts and stealing from our kids’ retirement funds,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“The Government has taken $11 billion that should be lifting women’s pay and used it to make its budget add up.

“Christopher Luxon’s decision to cut the Government KiwiSaver contribution will steal $66,000 from the retirement savings of an 18-year-old entering the scheme today.

“Women, young people and the working public are paying for handouts to landlords, multinationals and tobacco companies. Today we can add oil and gas companies to that list.

“With the cost-of-living pressure reaching crisis point, this Government is offering some families a measly $7 a week. That won’t even buy a block of butter.

“Last Budget Nicola Willis made a choice to borrow $12 billion for tax cuts which haven’t delivered for Kiwis. It’s time she took some responsibility.

“We don’t know if a single family has received the $250 she promised last year, so why should Kiwis believe her this this year?

“She is choosing austerity to make up for her poor fiscal management.

“More people are homeless, more children are going hungry and women are going to be paid less. That’s what Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon will be remembered for,” Chris Hipkins said.

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Two Labour bills drawn from the Member’s Ballot today would require greater transparency of international money transfers, and bring more public accountability and transparency to port companies.

“Too many families are losing money to hidden fees when they send remittances overseas. That’s not fair, especially with the cost of living rising,” Arena Williams said.

“My Financial Markets (International Money Transfers) Amendment Bill will require banks and other money transfer services to be upfront about their fees, exchange rates, and commissions. Consumers should know exactly what they’re paying, before they send a cent.

“New Zealanders pay more for international money transfers than people in Australia and other countries. My Bill is especially important for Pacific, Filipino, Indian and other migrant communities who regularly use remittance services to support loved ones abroad.

“Banks and finance companies charge for these services in a way most consumers won’t understand. It’s not clear, it’s not fair, and it hits working families hardest.

“This Bill is about making banking fairer for everyone, whether you’re sending money home to support family or making a purchase online in a foreign currency. Labour is on the side of consumers, not the banks.”

The Bill would:

• Require full disclosure of all fees, commissions, and exchange rates before a transfer is made
• Ensure the total cost of a transfer is clearly displayed, including markups
• Stop banks and providers from hiding charges in fine print

“This is an important step in bringing down everyday costs for families – starting with banking. Everyone deserves to know what they’re paying,” Arena Williams said.

Lemauga Lydia Sosene’s Local Government (Port Companies Accountability) Amendment Bill would bring more public accountability and transparency to publicly-owned port companies.

“Currently, publicly-owned port companies are immune to Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act requests which limits their public accountability. This Bill would change that and give local communities greater transparency around decisions that could affect their lives,” Lemauga Lydia Sosene said.

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The Government is taking the Digital Services Tax off their books, effectively handing a $479 million tax break to global tech giants, like Facebook and Google.

“First it was tax breaks for landlords and tobacco companies, now it’s multinational technology companies,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

“Under National if you’re already doing well, you can have a tax break to do even better. But everyone else, everyday Kiwis, miss out.

“The message from this Government could not be clearer: if you’re a woman seeking equal pay, or a family trying to get the FamilyBoost payment that was promised to you, then you don’t matter.

“But if a wealthy corporation comes asking for help, they will bend over backwards to give them a break—at your expense.

“Nicola Willis promised Kiwi families $250 a fortnight, but she can’t find a single family who got it. More than a quarter of their FamilyBoost scheme, about $14 million, has been eaten up in bureaucracy instead of going to families as promised.

“They’re telling New Zealanders we need to tighten our belts, but this Government keeps giving handouts to the people who need it least and taking it from the people who need it most.

“Budgets are about choices, and at every turn this Government is making the wrong choices.

“We need a government that is focused on improving the lives of New Zealanders, not making global tech giants like Facebook and Google even more profit,” Barbara Edmonds said.

Note to editors: The $479 million figure comes from the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2024 (page 76), which states: “The forecasts currently account for a 1 January 2026 implementation and include revenue of $479 million over the forecast period in relation to the DST with an additional $146 million per annum expected beyond the forecast period.”

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The Government is moving to let two of the country’s most profitable banks off the hook for money owed to their customers.

“As Kiwis continue to feel the squeeze of the high cost of living, this Government is choosing to deny tens of thousands of New Zealanders who may be owed money the right to make a claim in court,” Labour commerce and consumer affairs spokesperson Arena Williams said.

“ANZ and ASB, two of the most profitable banks in New Zealand, broke disclosure laws designed to protect mortgage holders. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders may be owed thousands of dollars in interest and fees that were wrongly charged.

“Instead of helping people get their claims dealt with, National is pushing through law changes so that the penalties banks owe are softened and will be backdated.

“Their choice to change the law on behalf of banks and at the expense of Kiwis is outrageous. True to character, Christopher Luxon fails to see how every dollar helps families pay for their rents, rates, or groceries.

“This is what being out of touch looks like. This is a government that finds time to help billion-dollar banks dodge accountability, but no time to help the people they may have overcharged.

“Next time you hear a National Minister talking tough on supermarkets or energy companies, remember that the real decisions don’t happen in front of the cameras, they happen in Cabinet, quietly,” Arena Williams said.

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The Government can’t say if even a single family has received the $250 a fortnight they were promised.

“It’s time Nicola Willis got her binoculars out to begin the search for a family that has received her promised cost of living relief,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

“There are 33 examples of where she is planning to cut women’s pay, but she can’t come up with a single example of anyone who has received the full $252 she promised.

“People who received it appear to be rarer than the little spotted Kiwi, the fairy tern, new ferries, or Nicola Willis answering a question without blaming Labour.

“National said it would help with cost of living, but so far all New Zealanders are getting are broken promises and cuts to women’s pay.

“It’s possible that not a single New Zealander received $252, and so the great Kiwi treasure hunt for Nicola Willis’ cost of living relief begins,” Barbara Edmonds said.

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