“In communities like Tairāwhiti we’ve focused on stimulating the local economy, created good and well-paying jobs, dealt with environmental issues like forestry slash, which is of real concern, and made sure we’ve built up our public services like health and education services. We’ve also given pay rises to nurses and teachers.
“All of those things would go backwards with a change of government.”
Mr Hipkins defended his government against National Party criticism that the cyclone recovery was too slow in the region.
Criticism was “easy rhetoric”, he said.
“Let’s look at their own track record with the Christchurch earthquakes, which only happened in one region.
“We’ve given people certainty about flood-affected property buy-outs here faster than they did after the Canterbury earthquakes.”
The cyclone impacted many regions and “we still managed to get certainty quicker than in Christchurch”.
Mr Hipkins did not dismiss the previous night’s television leaders’ debate as a bore or uneventful. He was glad to get his message across to viewers. His post-debate feedback had been positive but he said it was frustrating that National leader Christopher Luxon “never” answered questions.
“I think I did well with the questions that were asked of me.”
National still had a major problem because their house sales to foreigners tax policy made their tax cuts policy unaffordable, he said.
National’s plan to sell $20b of housing to foreigners over four years was not credible.
Labour had campaigned on National having a “$2 billion hole” in their tax costings.
Spending cut decisions made by National would leave people worse off and other spending cuts would have to be found to balance their tax policy.
With National leading in the polls and Labour constantly below 30 percent, Mr Hipkins was asked if Labour needed to differentiate itself more from National with a bolder tax policy.
He defended Labour’s “significant” tax changes, saying a wealth tax would not be a solution but could result in an exodus of wealth.
The minimum wage had increased by nearly $7 a hour and had been opposed by National. National’s tax cuts would give minimum wage earners an extra 25 cents a hour while they would have to pay more for many public services.
Other Labour policies included the abolition of $5 prescription charges and free dental care to the age of 30.
Mr Hipkins visited Turanga FM and film production company Rāngai Limited and made a cyclone recovery-related announcement at Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou before travelling to an afternoon engagement in Wairoa with Mayor Craig Little and other community leaders.
