Christopher Luxon should apologise to the 15,000 New Zealanders whose Winter Energy Payment stopped because of changes National rushed under urgency.

“People should not have been left unable to pay their power bills during the coldest months of the year because this Government chose to rush legislation through without proper scrutiny,” Labour social development and employment spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

“Losing this payment meant some of our most vulnerable New Zealanders have been living in a freezing home.

“Life is hard enough because of the choices of this Government. We’ve already seen National slash temporary additional support and make it harder to access emergency housing. I dread to think of what’s next.

“While Luxon has given billions in tax breaks to landlords and tobacco companies without a hiccup, he needs to explain why he keeps tripping over himself when it comes to some of our most vulnerable.

“Kiwis who’ve had their payments botched deserve an apology – it’s the least Luxon can do after making life harder for so many New Zealanders,” Willow-Jean Prime said.