If elected to Government at this year’s general election, the National Party will ban gang patches in public places, slash spending on consultants, lift incomes for all Kiwis, and increase standards in health and education.
Party leader and Botany MP Christopher Luxon laid out his vision for the country at his state of the nation speech in Auckland on March 5.
He said the Labour Government is under-performing, has taken New Zealand backwards, and cannot deliver.
Kiwis are unhappy about the country’s worsening economic problems and feel burdened and stifled by a bloated Government that’s grown too bureaucratic, too wasteful and is unresponsive to their problems, he said.
“It’s not good enough to say you’re going to lower greenhouse gas emissions, but not do it.
“It’s not good enough to say you’re going to build affordable housing, but not actually do it.
“Talking about it gets you a headline. But only doing it makes a difference.”
Luxon said interest rates, rents and inflation are “damagingly high”, and investor, business and consumer confidence are “worryingly low”.
“Core public services are dire. Hospital wait times are at record levels.
“So is retail crime. School absenteeism is shocking. These are not records any government wants to claim, but this is New Zealand under Labour.”
Luxon made five commitments he vowed to deliver on if elected prime minister.
They are that National will curb the rising cost of living, lift incomes, deliver resilient infrastructure, restore law and order, and provide better health and education services.
On the cost of living crisis, Luxon said he’d take some of Labour’s wasteful spending and use it for a new ‘FamilyBoost’ childcare tax rebate to make early childhood education more affordable.
It’ll help 130,000 low-and-middle-income families keep more of what they earn, with up to $75 more in their after-tax pay each week, he said.
“That’s $3,900 every year, depending on their income. Families will receive a 25 per cent rebate on their early childhood education expenses, up to the maximum of $3,900 per year.”
Luxon said FamilyBoost will also help families who want to work more hours.
A party vote for National will be a “vote to stop the drift that’s taking New Zealand backwards and to instead start the engine that will take us forwards”, he said.
“I’m ready. My team is ready. We know we can do it. We know we can deliver the results that matter to New Zealanders, and we can’t wait to get on with it and get things done.”
