Hey.
Hi i'm David Cunliffe the leader of the Labour Party and with your help
the next Prime Minister New Zealand. You know, we've always believed in putting
people first
in taking positive actions that will support our communities and families
all around New Zealand. We hear that there is a recovery
but for too many people that is just not happening, people are having trouble keeping up
with the rising cost of living,
and for too many to doing it tough. So we're asking where's your recovery? Is it
happening in your community or your region
all around New Zealand? Is that fair for all, or is the gap between rich and poor
getting wider and wider.
Labour has a positive plan that's gonna make a real difference and you know what
I could tell you about that plan, but I'd rather show you.
Well I reckon actions speak louder than words, I'm in politics
because I believe in New Zealand and in making it a better place
for all New Zealanders. Not just some. You know being better off is not just about
having better wages,
although everybody should. It is not just about having a warm
dry home, although every family deserves one, not just some.
and it is not just about having rewarding work that allows you to put
food on the table for your family, although
everybody should have that too. It's about feeling good
about being part of something that is bigger and better
than all of us. We call it New Zealand. And positive action
to make it even better starts right now.
It's about creating opportunities for all our kids to be the best they can be.
It's about unlocking everyone's potential, not just some.
It's about an old idea that we're all worth the same,
it's about caring, it's about putting people first.
You know putting people first is what labour's always done?
And it's what we will do again as we lead
the next government of this great country of ours.
We're here in the Onehunga Community House for two reasons,
One, to help spruce up this fine local community center
and Two, because today we are going to be talking about
the issues still facing real kiwi's. The issues
you care about. We're gonna show how straightforward
positive policies can make a real difference
in the lives of real New Zealanders.
So what are the big challenges for you as a family, and what do you want the
next Labour-led government to do to put you first? Well, we'd really like to buy our own home
and it just seems to be a real struggle at the moment, we just seem to be going backwards,
and it seems only a few can afford to buy right now. Yeah, we have been renting
for a while a while now and it's
dead money. So we're going to do something about that. What exactly?
Well, First thing is that you are not alone, home ownership rates have been dropping
and where at a 60-year low now, and Labour is going to bring back the Kiwi dream
by making both rents and home ownership more affordable.
We're gonna do that by building a hundred thousand
affordable homes for first-home buyers and that will give more Kiwi families
Foot on the property ladder, and for renters
our Healthy Homes Guarantee will make sure that every rental
is warm and dry. We're gonna put a stop to offshore speculators bidding up
the price of houses and our Capital Gains Tax that excludes the family home,
that will slow the rate that house prices go up.
Wow, that sounds really exciting for us as a family especially
trying to get into our own home.
Mmm.
So what's important for you guys?
Ahh, for us its our kids schools and their resources seem pretty stretched. Absolutely, Educations a really big
priority, for Labour
that's why we want to increase school funding so that we can make
sure they don't have to rely on parents for
donations. We also want to improve teacher quality and we want to put another
two thousand extra teachers in to the classroom, so that
Kids can be in smaller class sizes
and what about keeping up with changes in technology? Yeah, thats really important, we
want to make sure the kids are learning what they need from the 21st century so
we want to make sure that all kids above year 5 have access to a portable
electronic device like a Tablet or a Laptop that they can use at school and
at home
so that they can learn what they are gonna need when they leave school.
Sounds Great.
Hows Varsity going? It's good you know, like learning about the different
things that affect New Zealanders
in todays society, really makes me
appreciate the values in what we stand for. It's good to be able to give back to the community, aye?
Yeah like a simple thing like this could mean so much to a community and i'm glad that I have
the opportunity to give back. Thats Awesome.
Do you get much time to do community work?
Umm, not really with my studies but when I can give back, I like too.
Because you know, simple things like this, like from my upbringing
I know can mean a lot of people, so, yeah.
Thats awesome, awesome. Won't be long now and we will be finished I think.
I hear you're raising the minimum wage?
Yeah, ahh, we're gonna put it up to fifteen dollars an hour before Christmas
and by April next year it will be two dollars an hour more than it is now.
we think that everybody deserves a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.
and we think it's incentive to get people into the workforce. The Governments got do its
to do it's bit to help
make sure that every worker gets to enjoy the benefits of a growing economy.
I think we need a stronger economy so that my business can grow, Whats Labour's plan for that?
Well as I see it Labour's policies, our economic policies are about
delivering secure well-paid jobs, strong economy,
balance-the-budget. Labour is pro-growth.
we don't see the sense in sending all those logs offshore raw,
only to import them back costing more as finished products.
So we think we should invest in our businesses encourage them
to buy that expensive equipment, develop those new products
that we need to sell smart, high-value exports to the rest of the world.
Things like kiwi saver I don't just give people a nest egg
they also make the economy stronger, help us grow
and you can be sure that under Labour
everyone who contributes they'll get a fair go
and their fair share. its just common sense.
What about the the kids? There's a lot of talent out there but I'm not seeing it come through
in industry. Yeah and we've got a plan for that as well we want to bring down
youth unemployment
and we will do that through things like our apprenticeship programs, so we
will pay you the employer the equivalent of
the dole for up to a year to take on and retain a young person in an
apprenticeship
What do you reckon?
Yeah, thats great.
So what are the big issues facing you today?
Well, its the basics really
I've put some funds aside after working hard all my life, but just the costs of
keeping well, it's a challenge.
Your right, in as we get older we've got to keep on top of things
Thats why labour will make doctors visits and prescriptions free to all New Zealanders
65 years of age and over, under thirteen-year-olds
and our pregnant mums. People are living longer
and its cheaper in the long run to tackle issues before they become big problems.
It's fair its caring and it just make sense.
Can't argue with that.
So, Looks like these two keep you busy? Yeah tell me about it.
Well it's the same for my family
when I'm away they've got their hands full. How do you guys cope?
My wife and I both work to try keep money rolling in, but it's not always easy,
and I'm just looking out for the best opportunities for me my family.
Family is hugely important and that's why we want every family to have
the best possible start we want everyone to have the same opportunities that we
all had when we were young.
So what's the plan?
So the plan is to build a happier and more productive
society starting with easing the financial pressures
on families just like yours.
What we're going to do is make sure there is a proper
increase in paid parental leave to 26 weeks
and we will introduce our Best Start Package which means for most families they'll receive
an extra 60 dollars a week in the first year of
their child's life and for some families that will continue until their child turns three
and will increase Plunket visits for parents because we all know,
becoming parent changes your life.
And we're gonna reduce power bills for everyone
So thats one less thing you guys are gonna have to worry about.
So what do you think about all that?
Awesome.
So people are really important, but we know that there are lots of other issues
that matter too, like for example the environment, is an issue that matters to you?
Ahh, very important rivers especially clean
water, clean rivers. I would like my children and my grandchildren to swim in
the same rivers as
I swam in as a child, that's very important. Well we agree,
clean rivers clean beaches. Moving our economy to a clean green high-tech
future
and making sure that we take climate change seriously,
those are all crucial to Labour.
Good, thats great.
So we've learned about some of the challenges you're facing.
Challenges in finding affordable housing
so you can share in the Kiwi dream. The need for a growing economy that creates
high-value jobs
and stimulates investment. And a desire to see our kids
have the best start in life so they can all fulfil their potential.
We've seen here today that when people work together it's possible,
build a real sense of community and achievement, our collective effort can
make a small
but important difference to the lives of local people
just like it has right here. Because
actions always speak louder than words.
Well I think everyone would agree with me this is what politics should be about
positive action that helps everyone in our communities
to be the best that they can be. You know what that's what Labour is all about too.
I believe we need to create a fairer society, one
that rewards hard work, a better one
which is fair to all New Zealanders their hopes, their dreams that gives them the
opportunity to
unlock their potential, both now and in the future.
Our Home. Our Work. Our Families.
All will benefit if we do the positive thing for New Zealand and put people first.
So this election be positive. Vote Positive.
Party Vote Labour.
In labour, we put people first, the media
they get plenty of chances to ask questions. But we would really like to hear
directly from you. So ask me one burning question
that really matters to you, could be about your job, could be about your home,
could be about your family could be about your future.
Ask me the question, that you want me and the Labour Party to address.
So, I'm inviting you to send your question now.
Use the link below and we'll get back to you with the details.
this election is about you. So make sure
you have your say.