Budget 2026 Leaves Kiwis Behind – Labour

National has chosen to make life harder for New Zealanders in Budget 2026, its last Budget before voters get to judge Christopher Luxon’s Government at the election.

“This year’s Budget was the Government’s last chance to show it had a plan to help New Zealanders get ahead – and they have failed,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said

“Nicola Willis has given New Zealanders nothing to ease the pressure they are under. Instead of helping struggling New Zealanders, Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis chose to make lives harder.

“Under National, New Zealand pays for Luxon’s cuts. Cuts that don’t work and will bring immediate pain and make the economy smaller.

Budget 2026 makes struggling households pay more

“Despite advice, the Government has chosen to cut jobs, raise rents and axe services that help seniors, families, and young people.

“They broke their promise to fix the economy, instead are soon to sack 9,000 people who deliver essential services that families rely on.

“Cutting these roles will affect social workers, police, housing and healthcare, and hurt the regional economies as thousands more families struggle to make ends meet.

“They’ve chosen cruel housing policies, which will see 80,000 households worse off, on top of earlier decisions to cut housing builds and increase the number of Kiwis living on the street.

“Luxon chose to cut the services families rely on to fund tax cuts for property speculators and tobacco companies. National’s plan is hurting – and it’s not working.

“Labour will make different choices. We have a plan that chooses real action on the cost of living, to help families and businesses. We choose a path that offers better jobs, health, homes, and a better future for all New Zealanders.

“This November, New Zealanders have a choice too. We cannot afford another three years of National’s bad choices,” Chris Hipkins said.