Support for wage policy as Goff strolls

Labour leader Phil Goff stops to chat with Pardeep Singh with his son Jay while on an hour-long walk along the 1km Sylvia Park shopping mall. Photo / Natalie Slade

Chandra Wati says she likes her job as a food-hall cleaner but told Labour leader Phil Goff yesterday that the $13.50 an hour she earns is far too meagre.

"I want Labour to win - I enjoy my job here but I'm looking forward to $15 an hour," she said as Mr Goff began an hour-long walk along the 1km Sylvia Park shopping mall in the marginal National-held electorate of Maungakiekie.

Her reference was to Labour's promise to lift the minimum wage to that level from $13 now, a policy which National says would exacerbate youth unemployment.

Fiji-born Ms Wati said her wage would be enough only if she and her family didn't have to eat to survive.

"You have to close your mouth - it is not enough," she said after meeting Mr Goff.

Although she and her husband have only one child living at home in Auckland - as well as three others in Fiji and two grandchildren - she said buying clothes to keep him at high school was hard on the family.

Georgia van Zantvoort, 19, who Mr Goff met behind the counter of boutique confectionary shop Sweet, said she would like to be paid more but was worried about the impact on the small business which employed her.

It was owned by a Christchurch-based husband and wife team whose shop in an earthquake-damaged mall in the Garden City was closed for four months.

Mr Goff was given an easy time by most of those he met during his walk, although some had to be reminded of exactly who they were talking to.

"You're that politician," said shop worker Ryan Murray, although he noted that at 15, he had another three years to make up his mind. One woman demanded to know Mr Goff's name before talking to him.

Nine-month-old Jake Ashley gave Mr Goff a sceptical look from his pushchair, but the Labour leader said: "At least he's showing some interest."