Lillian
Hanly, Political reporter
Labour
leader Chris Hipkins says the odds are against his party
this year given the rarity of one-term governments – but
he’s determined to buck the trend.
“Christopher Luxon
has exactly 290 days left as prime minister,” Hipkins said
on Thursday. “The clock is ticking.”
Speaking at a
campaign event near Auckland’s waterfront, Hipkins vowed to
“build the biggest grassroots campaign Labour has ever
run.”
Hipkins said the election date’s announcement
“truly” kickstarted the work to change the government, name
checking both National and ACT in his speech. Curiously, New
Zealand First escaped a mention.
The prime minister
confirmed on Wednesday this
year’s election would be held on 7 November, making the
announcement from National’s caucus retreat in
Christchurch
Hipkins told volunteers that Labour was
fighting for a simple idea: “this country should work for
everyone.”
He said the election would come down to a
choice: “A choice between a National government led by
Christopher Luxon that looks after the few at the top. Or a
Labour government that works for the people who get up and
actually do the hard grind every day.”
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Hipkins said as
prime minister, he would be sure to deliver on his
promises.
“You deserve a prime minister who answers
the questions, who takes responsibility,” he said. “Not one
who’s more interested in what you think of his Spotify
playlist than what you’re paying for your
groceries.”
Hipkins
said government ministers were out of touch with New
Zealanders when they told them “don’t take it personally”
when they lost their job.
“That’s not the New Zealand
I believe in, and it’s not the New Zealand I’m going to
lead.”
Hipkins said the odds were are against his
party, as New Zealanders don’t often “change a government
after just one term.” But he said New Zealanders “cannot
afford to give Christopher Luxon another three
years.”
Hipkins
asked the audience who was “actually feeling” a difference
when it came to the economy.
“Are you better off than
you were three years ago? Are your groceries cheaper? Is the
power bill easier to pay? Is it easier to see the local
doctor than it was three years ago?
“Is it easier for
your kids to find a job here at home than it was before
Christopher Luxon became the prime minister?”
Hipkins
said Luxon would ask for “more time… but more time for
what?”
“More time for GP visits to hit over $100
dollars? More time for your kids to move to Australia? More
time for power bills to keep climbing? More time to cut the
public services we call rely on?”
Hipkins described
stories he’d heard of people and families doing it tough,
laying the blame squarely on the government.
“It’s
because the system isn’t working for them. And that’s on
this government. National, ACT and all their friends….
They don’t want to change the system.”
Hipkins
concluded his speech by calling on supporters to be part of
the campaign, which “won’t be won on TV or on
billboards.”
“It will be won by ordinary New
Zealanders talking to their neighbours, their workmates,
their
families.”
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