National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins have debated in the second NZ Herald Leaders’ Debate, covering economic management, minimum wages, healthcare and law and order.
Luxon argued Labour’s proposed capital gains tax would hurt investors, businesses and the economic recovery. Hipkins then challenged National’s record, saying unemployment had risen by 48,000 since Luxon became Prime Minister. The pair also disputed responsibility for government debt, with each defending their fiscal record.
Both initially agreed to increase the minimum wage in line with inflation, but Hipkins didn’t agree with Luxon’s claim that National had “more or less” done so. After the debate, Luxon clarified that inflation was a starting point, with economic conditions and other factors influencing any increases.
On health, the leaders agreed to meet after the election to develop a long-term, bipartisan medicines-funding plan. However, Luxon argued Labour’s proposed three free GP visits would strain services and subsidise people who could afford treatment.
Hipkins ruled out giving the Greens or the Maori Party the Police or Corrections portfolios after their MPs reportedly met with Mongrel Mob members. Luxon defended National’s crime policies, while Hipkins argued removing gang patches had only made crime less visible.
Other topics covered schooling, electricity-market reform and foreign affairs. Luxon again ruled out working with Opportunity, while both supported arresting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New Zealand and welcoming US President Donald Trump.
Watch the full NZ Herald Leaders’ Debate.
The finance debate: Tax, spending and election promises
Last night’s ASB Great Debate brought party finance spokespeople from National, Labour, ACT, the Greens, NZ First and Opportunity together to debate their plans for the economy, tax and spending ahead of the election.
National’s Nicola Willis began by defending the Investment Boost policy, arguing it rewarded businesses buying machinery and expanding operations. Labour’s Barbara Edmonds promoted easier access to capital, increased research funding and write-offs for purchases under $10,000. ACT’s David Seymour called for less bureaucracy and proposed trials for innovators to test technologies under temporarily relaxed rules.
On supermarket reform, Willis supported breaking up the duopoly, saying prices could fall by 3–4% while Seymour argued intervention would create uncertainty and favoured removing barriers to new entrants instead. Labour proposed separating wholesale operations to help independent retailers compete, while the Greens’ Chloe Swarbrick again backed their idea of “KiwiMart”, a publicly owned supermarket.
On tax, Opportunity’s Qiulae Wong argued a land tax would address housing affordability and shift investment towards productive businesses. Edmonds defended Labour’s proposed capital gains tax, but excluding the family home. Willis and Seymour opposed any new taxes, while Swarbrick took aim at wealthy people. NZ First’s Shane Jones promoted lower corporate taxes for businesses with turnover below $30 million.
Jones also called for breaking up electricity companies and enabling energy development ahead of demand. Wong emphasised energy’s potential to reduce emissions and costs, while Swarbrick criticised taxpayer investment in oil and gas.
Watch the full ASB Great Debate.
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Bunch of losers arguing over who gets to run the NZ arm of globalist Inc, that’s all this is and it’s all politics in this country has been for decades.