Christopher Luxon has once again shown how out of touch he is, telling struggling business owners to grow up, instead of taking responsibility for a weak economy under his watch.

"Businesses aren't asking for a patronising lecture and a handout from the Prime Minister, they're asking for an economy that works," Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

"Rotorua businesses told Christopher Luxon confidence is freefalling, customers are disappearing, and costs keep rising. They are telling him his Government’s choices aren't working. His response was to call them negative and tell them to grow up.

"Christopher Luxon promised to fix the economy and now he says, 'who cares what the Government will think or do?’ New Zealand businesses care very much what the government thinks and does, because his government’s choices affect whether they keep their doors open.

“It shows just how out of touch he is. Under his government we’ve seen a 15-year high in business liquidations, 40,000 additional people out of work, and costs across the country skyrocketing.

"Small businesses are the heart of our economy. These are people working seven days a week, risking their family savings, and lying awake wondering if they'll still be open next year. They know how to run a business. What they're questioning is whether this Government knows how to manage an economy.

"Christopher Luxon can't insult his way out of a failing economic record. Small business owners deserve a government that listens and has a real plan to help them succeed,” Barbara Edmonds said.