Labour Manifesto Targets Cost of Living with Specific Bill and Wage Cuts
The 101-page document outlines plans to cap transport fares, cut student debt, and reform the electricity market in the party's first 100 days.
By Kwame Silva ·
Labour released its 101-page election manifesto on Wednesday, centering the platform on the cost of living. The document, titled What Better Means for New Zealand, consolidates policies already announced by the party into a single text. Labour leader Chris Hipkins positioned the upcoming election as a direct referendum on household finances, arguing that the current government failed to deliver on its promises.
Hipkins cited specific inflation data to support the party's case. He stated that power bills have increased by nearly 30% and GP fees have risen by 21%. According to the manifesto, these price hikes have outpaced wage growth, leaving many workers financially behind despite high employment rates. The party argues that New Zealand cannot sustain another three years of National government policies without addressing these baseline costs.
The manifesto details concrete mechanisms to reduce consumer expenses. Labour promises to cap public transport fares and ban price gouging practices. In the energy sector, the party plans to remove upfront costs for solar installations. A key commitment is to begin a review of structural reform in the electricity market within the first 100 days of a Labour government, with legislation to be introduced within six months. The party also intends to cut student loan balances and provide three free GP visits annually.
Beyond immediate cost cuts, the document addresses labor market structures. Labour will ban total remuneration contracts in its first year to ensure KiwiSaver contributions are genuinely additional to wages. The party plans to restore pay equity legislation and reinstate the gateway test, which distinguishes between employees and contractors. In the healthcare sector, the manifesto commits to ending the health hiring freeze and requiring Pharmac to proactively seek out necessary medicines.
Other sections of the document cover housing, Māori affairs, and education. Labour promises to work toward eliminating homelessness and regulate property managers to prevent exploitation of tenants and landlords. The party will reinstate Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki act to maintain Māori connections to whānau and identity. In education, the plan involves pausing unimplemented curriculum changes to allow experts time to assess their effectiveness, while lifting achievement in English and maths.
On foreign affairs and trade, Labour stated it would maintain strong relationships with both the United States and China. The party also announced it would introduce economic sanctions on Israel and support South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice. Regarding immigration, the manifesto sets a requirement for individuals to spend four years in New Zealand before qualifying for permanent residence.
Hipkins emphasized that every commitment in the plan is costed and funded. The party intends to work within the same Budget allowances as National but make different choices regarding family priorities. The next step is for the opposition to detail the funding sources for these specific measures during the upcoming election campaign.
