Citing dole tally risky: PM

Opposition MPs who keep saying 1300 people are joining the dole queue every week risk undermining confidence in the economy, Prime Minister John Key says.

"In fact that number is wrong - it has occurred on one or two occasions. This week it rose by 394," he said yesterday.

"I'm not arguing that the rise is over or that we've topped out. I'm making the point that for a number of weeks the number going on [the dole] has been below 1000."

Labour has been using the 1300 figure in its attacks on the Government, which it says isn't doing enough to stem rising unemployment.

New unemployment figures will be released on Thursday through the Household Labour Force Survey.

Mr Key said business confidence was rising and that was linked with unemployment.

"If the Opposition continues to run around saying unemployment is rising by 1300 a week, they're putting at risk New Zealanders losing their jobs because they risk undermining confidence in the economy."

- NZPA