Latest news with #MeganWoods
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Labour hits back at Seymour's claim NZ is still 'digesting' Covid-19 pandemic 'hangover'
Labour's acting finance spokesperson Megan Woods. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Acting Prime Minister says New Zealand is still "digesting" a Covid-19 pandemic "hangover", but Labour says that's not what he had to say when he was in opposition. David Seymour made the comments on Wednesday after responding to the Reserve Bank's decision to keep the official cash rate steady , saying "these are tough times". "We've beaten the inflation, but the prices are still high and the interest rates are still to come down. "I would say that we're moving in the right direction, but that doesn't alleviate the pain that people are still feeling, so we own and acknowledge that." It was pointed out to Seymour it had been five years since the global pandemic, and was asked when he expected the country to be over the hangover. Seymour replied it had only been "just over three years since all the restrictions were lifted". "We still had a border closed at the start of 2022 and we still had restrictions in place almost to mid-2022 so it's only three years since life's been back to normal in the formal sense. "However, we've still had enormous challenges with inflation." But he pointed out inflation had dropped in the time the current government had been in power. "When this government was elected at the end of 2024 that was five and a half percent. Now it's two and a half. "When we were elected, we'd had an official cash rate at five and a quarter. Now it's three and a quarter." He said the country was still "on the transition away from Covid-era to more normal times when growth can resume". "That's kind of the transmission of that hangover." Acting Prime Minister David Seymour. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone He referenced the Covid inquiry hearing where Northland's local business association said the impacts of being cut off from the rest of the country during the third lockdown were still being felt. "Northland perhaps had it harder than anyone through that period, and they themselves are saying, we still have a hangover." In response, Labour's acting finance spokesperson Megan Woods said she did not hear Seymour or Nicola Willis acknowledging Covid had an impact on the economy when they were in opposition. In a general debate speech in May 2023, Seymour - then in opposition - criticised the Labour goverment's spending choices on health and education. He argued there had been an increase in spending with a lack of results to show for it. "I predict if this Labour government is re-elected with its Māori Party and Green Party crutches - heaven forbid - they'll be blaming Covid through to the next decade. "But the truth is that the pandemic's over." Woods said it was "somewhat surprising to hear them now claiming that that is the cause of the economy that they are presiding over". She said the government could be doing "so much more". "At the very time that we're seeing people struggle to find work, we're seeing a government that has scaled back on its own building program, for example, and it's no surprise we're seeing construction jobs disappear and those workers leave New Zealand." She said the whole government needed to "front up" and "do the job they were elected to do". "That is making sure there are good jobs for Kiwis, providing that cost of living relief for Kiwi families, and we're just not seeing that." On the OCR announcement, Woods said it was not "particularly surprising" there was no change and that it was clear the Reserve Bank was expecting inflation to increase, particularly around food prices. "It's absolutely the case there is uncertainty out there, but what we're seeing is the Reserve Bank doing the job that the government isn't doing to provide support for families. There is more the government could be doing that they're not ... we're seeing jobs like construction jobs disappear." She said the Family Boost policy had been an "utter failure" and the changes to the scheme would not be reaching New Zealanders' pockets until October. "Two years into this government, this is something that was promised as an election promise, we're seeing that it has failed in its first iteration so if that is all the government can point to as its success story, I think we can see what a dismal job the government is doing to help Kiwi families with cost of living." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
FamilyBoost Tweaks Too Little, Too Late For Families
Too many families have missed out on promised cost of living support under Christopher Luxon's Government. 'Today's attempt to fix the flagship FamilyBoost programme is a desperate attempt to cover up National's broken promises to lower the cost of living,' Labour acting finance spokesperson Megan Woods said. 'More than halfway through their term, the Government is only now scrambling to tweak a scheme that's barely reached a fraction of the families they promised to help. 'Even worse, families won't see a cent of this so-called relief until October. 'If Nicola Willis truly understood the cost-of-living crisis then she'd have acted a long time ago. 'Kiwis need relief now and they need leaders who are focused on delivering real results. 'Under National, life has gotten harder. They're cutting jobs, cutting women's pay, and driving up costs. Labour's number one priority will be to help people with the cost of living,' Megan Woods said
Scoop
19-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Jones Funding Fantasy Fossil Fuel Fountain
Minister of Resources Shane Jones can't – or won't – say what the criteria are for his $200 million subsidy for gas companies. 'We asked Shane Jones what the criteria are for his handouts to overseas fossil fuel companies in this morning's scrutiny hearing, but he couldn't tell us,' Labour energy and resources spokesperson Megan Woods said. 'That transparency is hugely important when we're talking about $200 million in taxpayer money that is going to subsidise their operations. 'Has he already decided who gets it? What's the process for that, and what happens if they don't find any gas, given no new gas reserves have been found in New Zealand for years? 'This subsidy is an irresponsible choice and further delays the much-needed transition away from fossil fuels, which are the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions. 'That money could be better spent building new warm, dry, energy-efficient homes; investing in our health system; or ensuring a just transition to good well-paying jobs for those currently working in the oil and gas industry. 'Shane Jones says he wants to open up the entire South Island to oil and gas exploration when companies have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars looking for fossil fuels without finding any. 'A responsible government needs to take a long-term view of where opportunities lie in our regions and where opportunities lie for New Zealanders in work. The Minister is showing absolutely no ability to do that and is focused on a fairy tale,' Megan Woods said.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Oral Questions for Thursday 15 May 2025
Questions to Ministers Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement about the pay equity changes that "the process that we have set up is fair. It's robust"; if so, how is cancelling 33 pay equity claims under urgency fair? CAMERON BREWER to the Associate Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen about tax and spending in New Zealand? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister of Health: Does he support GP services being free, publicly owned, and adequately resourced to reach underserved communities? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister for Women: Has she sought advice on the impact on closing the gender pay gap from moving the pay equity claim threshold from a 60 percent to a 70 percent female-dominated workforce; if not, why not? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about supporting the Government's target of raising student achievement? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Is it accurate that 180,000 workers are affected by the cancelling of 33 pay equity claims? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he believe bottom trawling is damaging; if so, should it be banned? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore law and order? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Was cancelling 33 current pay equity claims consistent with her commitment to reduce persistent disadvantage as outlined in her employment action plan; if not, why not? NANCY LU to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has the Government made about increasing competition in banking? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by her statement, "That is why we are prioritising disabled people, their families and carers"; if so, why? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What recent announcements has he made about strengthening regulation to support the welfare of dogs? To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Telangana delegates call for climate justice for developing countries
HYDERABAD: Amid global climate policy rollbacks, the 'Accelerating Climate Justice' panel at Bharat Summit 2025 issued a strong call for urgent, equitable action. Speakers from Japan, New Zealand, Latin America, and Nigeria highlighted the deep inequities in climate impacts, stressing the need for technology transfers, fair funding, and a 'just transition' for vulnerable nations and workers. Masaharu Nakagawa, former Japanese minister, warned that developing countries bear a disproportionate burden from emissions by major economies. He endorsed the Paris Agreement's goals but urged immediate steps, proposing the global expansion of Japan's greenhouse gas credit system. Former New Zealand energy minister Megan Woods championed a 'just transition' to protect workers, warning against right-wing narratives stalling climate action. 'Climate action means better jobs and living standards,' she said, lamenting policy reversals like renewed fossil fuel exploration. Bringing an African perspective, Oseloka H Obaze of Nigeria's Liberal Party condemned the paradox of Africa's minimal emissions yet catastrophic climate impacts. 'Africa cannot fight climate change while people die of hunger,' he said, criticising the failure of wealthy nations to fulfill funding promises. Obaze called for grant-based support, not loans that deepen debt, and advocated for a collaborative approach rooted in shared innovation and solidarity.
