Housing NZ has totally flawed priorities when it can let a man with an intellectual disability live in a flat without power because of water damage for two years, but require tenancy managers to approve paddling pools, Labour’s MP for Hutt South Trevor Mallard says.

“The man lives in a Housing NZ flat in Petone – in my electorate – which is virtually unliveable. There are holes in the walls, mould, a broken door and window, and peeling wallpaper.

Wellington Zoo would be ‘playing with fire’ if it pandered to the Prime Minister’s desire to house two giant pandas its CEO has warned.

“Correspondence released to Labour under the Official Information Act reveals zoo boss Karen Fifield raised alarm bells about the costs of acquiring the bears following a conversation with her counterpart at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo,” Labour’s Animal Welfare spokesperson Trevor Mallard says.

Kiwis will be horrified to know they are backing a Team Oracle subsidiary owned by a US billionaire, Labour’s Sports and Recreation spokesperson Trevor Mallard says.

It has been revealed today that a Warkworth boat building company, which is wholly owned by Larry Ellison’s America’s Cup team Oracle Racing, may have received millions of dollars in funding from the Government’s Callaghan Institute.

KiwiRail must immediately stop further Chinese engineers from working here until they can guarantee they are being paid the New Zealand minimum wage, Labour’s MP for Hutt South Trevor Mallard says.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment today released the findings of its investigation into Labour’s concerns the engineers at Hutt Railway workshops – hired to repair asbestos-riddled DL locomotives – are being exploited.

Labour has red flagged the Government’s flag referendum plans, arguing it doesn’t ask the obvious question – whether New Zealanders actually want a change.

“The Government has gone about this the wrong way,” Labour’s Internal Affairs spokesperson Trevor Mallard says. “We have two referenda coming up, neither of which asks whether people want a new flag.

A return to 10 year passports and a review of gambling laws are highlights of Labour’s Internal Affairs policy released today.

“More than 15,000 New Zealanders signed a petition calling on the Government to revert to the 10 year system for passports,” Labour’s Internal Affairs spokesperson Trevor Mallard says.

“While National is not prepared to make any firm commitments to that, Labour is. Restoring the 10 year life for passports will bring New Zealand into line with the US, Australia, Canada and the European Union.

A Labour Government will promote physical activity, back our top athletes and help foster Kiwis’ love of the great outdoors by upgrading tramping and camping facilities.

Trevor Mallard today released Labour’s sports and recreation policy which will bring back a focus on physical activity.

Labour is calling for an investigation into the alleged exploitation of workers at Hutt Railway workshops, hired to repair asbestos-riddled DL locomotives.

Hutt South Labour MP Trevor Mallard has written to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment asking that labour inspectors look into the employment situation of engineers brought in from China to work on the Chinese-built trains.

A Labour Government will help protect animals from harm by prohibiting the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. 

Labour’s Animal Welfare spokesperson Trevor Mallard today launched the initiative at an event organised by Labour’s Ōhariu candidate Ginny Andersen at the Wadestown Veterinary Clinic, which after boundary changes is now in the electorate.