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Duelling fiscal plans: Labour-National economic rivalry comes to a head

Published

3 years ago

September 25, 2023

National and Labour are both promising to front up with their full fiscal plans this week, their rhetoric over the economy growing increasingly feisty.

Labour – still down in the polls – has been criticising National’s take on the economy as a “doom and gloom” campaign; National says Labour is the negative one.

The economy is a key battleground this election, with major questions hanging over each of their flagship policies. Despite economists’ calculations suggesting National’s tax plan has a roughly $530m shortfall more than a week ago, the party has so far failed to provide evidence debunking those calculations – or front up with its own.

Labour has also largely stopped drawing attention to its GST off unprocessed fruit and vegetables policy, with the consensus from economic and tax experts saying it would be ineffective. The savings would more likely go into supermarkets’ pockets than shoppers’ and it would be an erosion of the broad-based tax system nearly impossible, politically, to reverse.

This fiscal rivalry was on show in the roughly hour-long head-to-head debate between Nicola Willis and Grant Robertson on TVNZ’s Q+A. More lively than the TVNZ leaders’ debate of last week, but offering little new information; the discussion centred on the familiar claims, counter-claims and accusations about one another’s plans. Willis committed to returning to surplus in 2027 – the same year Labour said it would – but not earlier.

So far, so similar.

Willis continued the attack in the early afternoon, claiming some $51 billion worth of Labour’s promises remained “unfunded” with no money set aside for light rail in Auckland and Wellington, the Lake Onslow power scheme, social income insurance, or the GST-free fruit and vegetables policy. This criticism doesn’t appear to stack up.

When it announced the GST policy, Labour said it would be paid for by again removing depreciation for non-residential property. The move is unpopular with some who say it would curb future development, but it’s one National has also promised to make to help fund its own tax plan.

Robertson defended the other four measures to reporters later in the day, explaining it was a problem for future budgets.

The social unemployment insurance scheme was put on hold during Labour leader Chris Hipkins’ policy bonfire, and Robertson said it “wouldn’t come in until economic conditions were appropriate – and I can’t see that in the next term of government”.

The light rail and Lake Onslow projects meanwhile were not yet past the business case stage: “It’s correct to say there’s some plans that have been laid out and we wanted to give the – excuse the pun – direction of travel of what we were doing,” Robertson said.

“There is a series of different ways that it will be funded over the coming years, and just as the National Party funded part of the City Rail Link and we added on to it, there is the scope for that.”

He said these funding solutions could include value capture or congestion charging, approaches National has relied on in its own promises.

Hipkins said Labour was still committed to light rail in Auckland, despite the long timeframes.

“We think it’ll be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change Auckland for the better … very few cities the size of Auckland wouldn’t have a mass rapid transit system. Auckland doesn’t and it needs one.”

The pair were there with Megan Woods to announce their policy to build 6000 additional public houses, and came armed with a bit more positivity about the economy, buoyed by GDP numbers out last week which showed stronger than expected growth, cancelling earlier predictions of a shallow “technical” recession.

Hipkins said it showed “what we’ve been saying all along, that we’ve been managing New Zealand’s economy carefully”.

“The New Zealand economy is turning the corner, and despite the doom and gloom being preached by the National Party, actually we’ve got one of the strongest growing economies in the world.”

He had just given a speech highlighting “the clear choice … between Labour and progress or National and their coalition of chaos and cuts”.

“You do not take our country forward by winding things back and that is all the parties on the other side are offering.”

National’s Housing spokesperson and campaign chair Chris Bishop took issue with his opponents’ attacks, saying Hipkins was “turning up the notch on negativity, spending most of his speech today, to a Labour Party group, attacking the National Party and Chris Luxon in particular”.

“I think it says something about the Labour Party campaign that they’ve got no new ideas and nothing positive to say about the future … while the Labour party goes negative, the National Party is announcing a positive plan and manifesto to get New Zealand back on track.”

He cited National’s policy events of the past three days: the 100-point plan (a round-up of previous policies); promoting their open-ended goal of doubling energy production by easing the consenting, and the party’s big announcement on Sunday, a promise to reverse all Labour’s speed limit reductions.

“I think it’s important for New Zealanders to know just what a negative and nasty campaign the Labour Party is running,” Bishop said. “Basically their campaign is ‘don’t vote for the National Party, and we’re better’. That’s about it and actually I think politics should be better than that.”

Of course, Labour announced its housing and free school lunches policies during that time too, never mind the almost identical immigration policies announced by both parties along with the ACT party on Saturday.

So far, so similar; the claims of negativity and counterclaims of a positive plan forward echoes of one another on either side, often with little to distinguish them.

Bishop’s chat with the media soon moved on to attacking their housing policy, highlighting the $1m-per-house cost and criticising Kāinga Ora, the government’s public housing landlord, for high levels of spending and debt.

Crucially, he pointed out Labour had not explained where the $6.2m social housing policy would be funded from.

With early voting just one week away now and both parties promising to release their full fiscal plans before then, voters will be expecting full explanations for these missing details.

It remains to be seen whether National’s will include evidence to support its costings. For Labour and their GST policy, the polls are suggesting it may be too late.

RNZ

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Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz