Pacific unemployment is surging, growing to 12.3 percent – the highest of any ethnic group and more than double what it was two years ago. 

“Christopher Luxon keeps making life harder for our Pacific communities – and today’s unemployment data proves it,” Labour Pacific peoples spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni said.  

"National cut $22 million from Tupu Aotearoa, a programme that helped thousands of Pacific people into work. Now, Pacific unemployment has more than doubled. 

“At the same time, the cost of food, electricity, and housing keeps rising. Christopher Luxon promised to fix the economy and the cost of living. Instead, his choices have made things worse. 

“The construction sector, which is where many Pacific people work, has been gutted by this government. And now, just like tens of thousands of other New Zealanders, Pacific people are being forced to look overseas for work that should be available here.  

"Pacific communities are falling behind under National and we cannot afford another three years of this. Labour has a plan to invest in New Zealand and create well-paid jobs. Come November, Kiwis can make that choice,” Carmel Sepuloni said.