No weekend is quiet from political chatter when it's less than a month out from the election. Jacinda Ardern has popped up in the campaign, NZ First is pledging to continue to raise the minimum wage in the face of ACT's pledge to freeze it, while the Greens are promising a youth job guarantee programme costing $4.7 billion.
Meanwhile, ACT has released its fiscal plan. Read more on that here.
A return of Ardern
Jacinda Ardern has appeared in Labour supporter emails, joining the likes of John Key to advocate for their parties.
"It has been such a long time since I have popped into your inbox," she said.
Ardern started by saying how much she supported "our Labour team."
"How much I'm cheering for them but particular obviously as leader my old colleague and friend Chris Hipkins."
She also spoke about how as leader, such remembered how much she appreciated those who volunteered and donated.
Late last month, Key spoke at the National Party election campaign launch, urging supporters to not split their vote. Helen Clark was also in attendance at the Labour Party election campaign launch the same day.
Busy weekend for NZ First
NZ First made a range of policy promises including to make the temporary fuel relief increase to the in-work tax credit (currently at $50 a week) permanent and increase it by an extra $70.
Leader Winston Peters signalled this during the Stuff Kingmakers' debate, saying if prices stayed above $3 he would increase working for families to possibly $120.
It was estimated to cost $500m to $600m a year.
He also promised to increase the minimum wage by at least inflation levels in every year of the next term of government. This promise comes after ACT promised to freeze increases for three years.
"New Zealand First has always ensured our lowest paid workers have seen a yearly increase to the minimum wage," Peters said.
He also promised to end the Accredited Employer Work Visa and replace it with a shortage-led Skilled Work Visa.
Billion dollar youth jobs pledge
The Greens want to create a pilot programme named 'Jobs for Young People' - similar to Jobs for Nature that was rolled out during Covid, "to support new jobs through councils, iwi, business, the public sector and non-profits."
It would be part of the party's "jobs guarantee" pledge, costing $4.7 billion through to mid-2031, with co-leader Marama Davidson promising every 16-24 year old who had been out of work for six months a pathway into a job. It comes at a time of high, and troubling, youth unemployment and underutilisation.
“All around our country, infrastructure and nature need maintenance and renewal, and community services are short of the people they need. We will guarantee young people a job doing this important work," Davidson said.
They also promised to scale up funding for the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs through all councils, which the party estimated would create 32,000 local jobs.
The Mayors' Taskforce, which partners with councils and runs local programmes with employers, estimates $8 million places "over 900 people into sustainable jobs across Aotearoa".
Compulsory school attendance until Year 12
National rolled out its latest education policy to require students to remain at school for the entirety of Year 11, regardless of age.
Education spokesperson Erica Stanford said currently students can leave school when they reach 16, with many reaching that age during Year 11.
“National is scrapping NCEA and from 2028 will begin replacing it with new national qualifications that are clearer and more credible and will give students, parents and employers confidence in what young people know and can do," she said.
“Students should complete at least a full Year 11 of compulsory science, English and maths, and have the opportunity to gain the new Foundational Award in literacy and numeracy."
However, exemptions would be allowed if the student had a job or were going into training.
Labour's 'cost of living' package
Labour announced its 'Cost of Living Action Plan', which, aside from promising a return of locally-made school lunches and restoring some rural school bus routes, was made up of already-announced policies such as the three free GP visits and weekly caps on public transport fees.
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