Days after National claimed their economic plan was working, new figures show Kiwi businesses are still going under and financial hardship is rising. 

“Nicola Willis can spin the forecasts but she can’t spin what’s happening to Kiwi businesses and families,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.  

“Around 5,830 companies have been liquidated in the past two years, including 1,516 construction companies.  

“Financial hardship is rising again. Personal loan hardship is up 46 percent in a year, and consumer defaults are up 19 percent.  

“This is more damning evidence that Kiwis are worse off because of National’s poor economic choices.  

“Behind every number is someone paying the price – a family falling behind on the bills, a worker losing their job, or a business owner watching everything they’ve built disappear. 

“National promised to get New Zealand back on track. Instead, jobs are harder to find, public services have been cut, and thousands of businesses have gone under.  

“If this is National’s idea of success, Kiwis should be seriously worried about what another three years will bring. We cannot afford another three years of National. 

“New Zealanders deserve better. This election the choice is clear: more hardship under National or Labour’s plan to grow the economy and help Kiwis get ahead,” Barbara Edmonds said.