Two big debates took place last night - listen to today's episode of On the Campaign for analysis of the rural issues debate from moderator Heather du Plessis-Allan, and the ASB Great Debate from the Herald's Derek Cheng.
Two big debates took place last night - listen to today's episode of On the Campaign for analysis of the rural issues debate from moderator Heather du Plessis-Allan, and the ASB Great Debate from the Herald's Derek Cheng.
If early reaction is anything to go by, the tech industry loves the two core elements of National’s tech policy, released this morning.
Read more.
Chris Hipkins has been visiting a local kindy provider, where he talked about extending free to 2-year-olds.
National is underfunding early childhood education, he said.
"They want to take away that funding.
"National also want to sack people working in Kainga Ora."
The National Party want to turn their back on progress in social housing, he said.
"National's numbers simply don't add up with regard to their tax plan.
"It's irresponsible and unaffordable."
Hipkins said National has a multi-billion dollar hole in their tax plan, which will mean cuts to education and health services.
National also want to cut what they call back room roles that will ultimately affect services Kiwis rely on.
NEMA for example had been important during the floods and cyclones, These aren't minor cuts the National Party are talking about, he said.
"They're talking about putting thousands of people out of work just before Christmas."
Asked if the public service have become bloated during Labour's Government he said they'd set out a plan to find savings in the public sector.
"Like not filling vacant roles and stopping some projects, National's cuts will cut into the bone of public service.
"No responsible Government would cut thousands of jobs just before Christmas."
National's most common refrain is "oh well they should've done it sooner" to any policies announced by Labour, Hipkins said.
Asked about a possible closure of overnight A and E at Kenepuru Hospital, the local MP (Barbara Edmonds) had been working on that.
The local MP said that was absolutely not going to happen under a Labour Government.
The major challenge our health workforce is facing is staff shortages, and that's why Labour is increasing places for training, Hipkins said.
National need to ask where people are going to go when they are kicked out of Kainga Ora homes, Hipkins said.
It's clickbait politics and all New Zealanders will pay the price, he said.
Asked if some people have been on welfare too long under Labour Government he said that was the case under any Government.
"Getting them off benefits and into work requires intensive work and that's what we're working on."
National's tax plan "has more holes in it than a block of Swiss cheese", Hipkins said.
He was incredibly proud of what we achieved as a country during Covid.
He didn't watch the finance leaders' debate. I don't get a lot of time, he said.
24717 people are on the social housing list - more need to be built and we've got thousands under construction right now, Hipkins said.
"We're building more public houses now than any Government since the 1950s."
Far too many people are in emergency housing, he said
"If the last Government had built enough public housing we wouldn't be in the position we are now."
On the spending from Government departments - he said about 700 people who had attended post-budget breakfasts.
"I don't think our Pacific communities should be excluded from hearing about and participating in the democratic procress of Budgets.
"Business communities hold the same thing for their communities.
"Our Pacific communities are treated as a punching bag by those three parties."
There's only one poll that matters and that's on election day, he said.
"There's still four weeks to go and we've got a lot to get our there and campaign for."
I'm really enjoying being on the campaign trail, he said when asked about his mood.
"I can hold my composure and I can lead my country during times of crisis.
I did that during Covid, the cyclone and I'll do that in the future."
He expected Luxon would be a very formidable debater.
"I know he's doing a lot of prepartion and he'll come out swinging."
He hadn't done much debating until he entered parliament, Hipkins said.
"National is proposing to wind back almost every climate change policy we've had."
They've not only got a big fiscal hole but a carbon hole as well, he said.
Everybody will recognise the last 6 years have been incredibly disruptive, he said.
"Covid had meant some of the things we'd like to do have taken longer than we wanted.
"The work of Government is never done."
On the Maori electorates, "we hold most of them now and we're aiming to keep them."
"A National ACT NZ First government could potentially be the most anti-Maori Government."
Will have live updates when that starts, likely in the next 5-10 minutes.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Hutt South candidate Ginny Andersen talk with Woman’s Refuge and Woman Centre staff at Whare Manaaki Inc in Porirua.
The policy takes a harder line on drug addicts and those on sickness benefits, including those who suffer from long-term stress.
Read more...
A few bystanders have gathered to listen as Seymour addresses the media.
A person protesting nearby against vaccine mandates stood behind Seymour and flashed a protest sign at cameras.
He was ushered away by a fellow protester.
"It's not worth it, it's Seymour - he won't do anything."
Seymour has wished a woman's son a Happy Birthday on video and met with a couple of voters outside Riverside Mall.
He has made his way through Riverside, talking to people's camera phones on multiple more occasions.
Seymour was determined to hunt out a local lolly store for the right flavors.
"Im pretty taken on the marshmallow actually," he said to the staff member.
"It's an eleven out of ten."
He then warned the staffer he's got Grant Robertson's credit card, so "it might decline."
"I liked your new billboard," one passerby said, referring to the Barbie parody board.
"Ah, I've got to have my face somewhere," he replied.
Brandishing a flowered hat, Seymour was offered the scoop off, which Hipkins and Luxon completed at eight scoops in sixty seconds.
Seymour's ice cream will be the hardest to scoop, staff told him.
After a quick demonstration on how to scoop, Seymour chose the smores flavor and raced a fellow staff member.
"I've got very strong wrists," Seymour remarked, claiming he'd found his rhythm.
Shaking the staff members hand with chocolate on his hands, Seymour was told he beat both Luxon and Hipkins with ten scoops.
Answering quick fire questions, Seymour told spectators his favourite Maori word was "Ka Pai".
He said he's obviously 'Team Ken' due to "recent vandalism", and he'd like to take half a million Act voters on an ice cream date.
Seymour posed with the Rollikin crew for a photo under his newly assigned flavour... David Smore
"David smore for the win, this is the best ice cream you're gonna find," said Seymour as he took a munch on his assigned flavour.
David Smore has taken off at the Christchurch gelato store, a line of roughly twenty people is snaking out the door.
Seymour has donned a cap and has started offering out free samples as the line grows.
"Alright, step right up - we got a free cone for you," the Act Party leader said as he dropped a scoop on the bench.
Drug addicts will face the prospect of losing their benefit if they refuse treatment or don't make efforts to find work, the ACT Party leader says.
David Seymour who is visiting Christchurch today has announced the party's policy on welfare which takes a harder line on drug addicts and those on sickness benefits, including those who suffer from long-term stress.
ACT wants to reduce the current number of 4000 people who receive the Supported Living Payment because of stress, 70 percent of them for more than five years.
Stress is a condition that can be treated over time, not a permanent incapacity, the party says.
Under the welfare policy 'designated doctors' will be hired to identify cases of fraud and ineligibility, ensure people are on the correct benefit, and are supported to meet any job-seeking obligations.
"It will increase the number of cases that are picked up as fraud, as there will be more active inquiries into cases, and doctors will feel empowered to offer a frank opinion."
The party will also ease pressure on doctors over-assessments of whether a beneficiary has the capacity to work.
At present they are required to discuss a work capacity certificate with the patient and ensure they agree to the information being provided.
"They are put in a difficult position if the patient disagrees with their opinion. ACT will allow doctors to complete work capacity certificates privately so they can give a frank opinion," Seymour says.
The newly released welfare policy is tied in with ACT's policy announced earlier to rename the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as Mental Health and Addiction New Zealand which would organise providers for a person's therapy and care.
By RNZ
In today's announcement, National’s plan to boost the tech sector and attract people here includes:
National Party leader Christopher Luxon said recent forecasts showed a "sustained economic slowdown with very anaemic growth."
Senior National Party candidate Judith Collins said she was confident Visa changes would help bring the best people to assist with the tech industry and small businesses.
National Party immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford said the party wants highly talented and skilled young people to take up Visas in New Zealand.
"The green list that is supposed to target those highly skilled roles often falls short."
Stanford said they were also looking for 250 people to apply for the Global Growth Tech Visa.
"We want them to travel, and put their kids in school and pay international fees," Stanford said.
The Visa policies look at targeting already well-earning and educated people from overseas to work in New Zealand.
Luxon said the Visas were about creating a high-wage-earning country for people to work in.
"There's a really vibrant tech community in New Zealand," Luxon said, reassuring he believed there would be a demand for the Visas the party is offering.
On whether it gives special treatment to already wealthy people, Luxon said he "disagrees completely."
"We have to deal with building a more productive economy."
"It's how we lift our wages and salaries."
Luxon said "in some cases, they will" pay taxes, of the people who will gain the Visas.
One of the visas will allow people to automatically have the right to buy houses in New Zealand, Stanford said.
"They won't be treated like foreigners," Stanford said.
"We're planning on 1600 houses to be sold... and that comes at a time that there's been suppressed demand [for buying homes]," Luxon said of foreign buyer home purchases.
In summary, Luxon says the party is targeting wealthy people to move and work in New Zealand, so they will buy luxury homes, rather than homes that average New Zealanders want to or can purchase.
Luxon said "our real challenge in New Zealand" is the inability to commercialise the research and development technology work.
Collins said that currently technology workers and startups get taxed as if they "already have the money, which is really unfair."
Luxon said a "concerning waste of money" was occurring at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
On whether his job is also on the line as Nicola Willis announced hers was should the tax policy fail, Luxon would not confirm.
Luxon said he is deeply committed to delivering tax relief to New Zealanders.
Luxon said we need to build more houses and open up the rental market to get people out of emergency housing.
Luxon said he was going to task CEOs of public services to look at the number of public sector employees and "stop these stupid projects that are going nowhere."