National’s fiscal plan offers more cuts, no cost-of-living relief and no independent review of its numbers, while relying on coalition partners who can’t agree on the basics. 

“New Zealanders are worried about the cost of living. National’s answer is three more years of cuts, with nothing new to bring down the cost of power, healthcare or getting around,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. 

“National boasts about ‘reprioritising’ $50 billion and promises to keep doing it. Kiwis know what that looks like: jobs being cut, projects being cancelled and longer lines at food banks. 

“There’s not a single measure in this plan to make life better for New Zealanders. 

"Unlike Labour, National hasn’t had its fiscal plan independently reviewed. Nicola Willis wants New Zealanders to take her numbers on trust, without the independent scrutiny Labour has put its plan through.
 

“You can’t trust their accounting on health. National claims record health investment every year, yet hospitals have just 54 more nurses in two years and patients are stuck waiting in ED corridors. 

“Then the coalition chaos is plain to see. The only savings in the plan come from cutting foreign aid and welfare, and NZ First opposes both, while ACT is cheering the aid cut on. 

“ACT also opposes National’s flagship KiwiSaver policy. Nicola Willis couldn’t even get ACT and NZ First to agree to independent checks on election promises. And Winston Peters wants to borrow billions for a bank that isn’t for sale. 

“New Zealanders have seen this all before. Last time, National promised families up to $250 a fortnight, only later to admit they couldn't find a single family that received the full amount. 

“After three years of cuts, all National is promising is more of the same. New Zealanders can’t afford three more years of that.  

“Labour has a plan to grow the economy and ease the cost of living. National’s plan is more cuts, more chaos and higher prices,” Barbara Edmonds said.