At a time when New Zealanders are going backwards, the Government has chosen to spend its energy creating a brand-new mega-ministry that nobody asked for.

“This announcement shows just how out of touch the Government is with what people are worried about,” Labour Infrastructure spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. 

“Kiwi families are struggling with the cost of living, communities are waiting on long-promised infrastructure, and the Government has chosen to focus on reorganising ministries rather than delivering results. 

“The lack of progress on transport and housing has nothing to do with the need for another MBIE-like mega merger and everything to do with the Government’s poor decisions and lack of funding. 

“If they funded the transport announcements they’ve made and didn’t 
pull back on house builds at a time homelessness is increasing at unprecedented rates, contributing to the loss of 20,000 construction jobs, they wouldn’t need to create this mountain of bureaucracy. 

“How are we going to see any results in these crucial areas when the Government is busy working on a restructure.

“This is the wrong focus at the wrong time, from a Government that is totally out of touch with Kiwis,” Kieran McAnulty said.