Latest news with #BarbaraEdmonds
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Oral Questions for Thursday 5 June 2025
Questions to Ministers TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made about increasing the speed limit on State Highway 1? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent reports has she seen on tourism growth and international visitor spending? CAMERON LUXTON to the Associate Minister for the Environment: What recent announcements has he made about reforming freshwater rules? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Women: Does she stand by all her statements and actions regarding pay equity? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Transport: Are local road controlling authorities required to increase speed limits under the Government's policy if one of the reasons for a speed limit reduction since 2020 was proximity to a school, and are impacts on road safety a factor that allows local road controlling authorities to retain safe speeds on streets? JOSEPH MOONEY to the Minister of Conservation: What recent announcements has he made about Milford Sound? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister of Conservation: Has he received any advice on the impact of Conservation funding cuts on jobs and communities; if so, how many jobs have been identified as at risk? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing: What recent announcements has he made in the Hunting and Fishing portfolio? STEVE ABEL to the Minister of Agriculture: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that New Zealand farmers are the "No. 1 most carbon-efficient in the world"; if so, on what factual basis? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Vocational Education: Has the Treasury advised the Government that "Demand for tertiary education and training is currently forecast to exceed the volume able to be funded"; if so, what advice has she received about the potential for job losses at New Zealand's Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, and universities? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Vocational Education: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Oral Questions for 3 June 2025
Questions to Ministers CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? LAURA McCLURE to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: What recent announcements has she made about reforming WorkSafe? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made about business tax? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement about the Budget that "Wages are forecast to grow faster than the inflation rate, making wage earners better off, on average, in real terms"; if so, what is the effect on wage growth over the forecast period of removing the $12.8 billion from future pay equity claims? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What announcements has he made on reforming national direction under the Resource Management Act 1991? TANYA UNKOVICH to the Minister for Resources: What announcements has he made regarding energy security in New Zealand? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement in relation to emergency department wait times, "I expect Health New Zealand to empower clinicians at local levels to fix bottlenecks in real time"; if so, is he confident this has occurred ahead of winter 2025? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made regarding learning support as part of Budget 2025? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her proposed changes to WorkSafe; if so, why? PAULO GARCIA to the Associate Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has he made about social housing tenancies? Question to Member Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: Why did he respond to the referral by the House to the Finance and Expenditure Committee of the Regulatory Standards Bill with a six-month reporting deadline by issuing a call for submissions with a four-week deadline? To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Reserve Bank Predicts More Job Losses
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party The Reserve Bank warned about a weakening labour market, with unemployment remaining above 5% and expected to climb further this year. That contradicts Nationals promises of thousands of new jobs in their Budget. Thanks to their choices, more than 15,000 … The Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Statement predicts a sluggish economy with higher inflation and more job losses. 'Just days after Nicola Willis slashed women's pay in order to deliver her so-called 'Growth Budget', growth is now predicted to slow,' Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. 'The Reserve Bank cited low growth, higher inflation in the short term, and higher unemployment as key reasons why they cut rates today. Rate cuts are good for mortgage-holders, but there are some real alarm bells in the RBNZ's statement. 'Specifically, it projected sluggish economic growth of less than 1% in 2025, and said that inflation will continue to rise in the short term. 'Most concerning, the Reserve Bank warned about a weakening labour market, with unemployment remaining above 5% and expected to climb further this year. That contradicts National's promises of thousands of new jobs in their Budget. Thanks to their choices, more than 15,000 construction jobs have been lost. 'The Government claims to have delivered a 'Growth Budget' but the only growth we can see is growing unemployment, growing prices, and a growing pay gap between men and women. 'Instead of helping people through tough times, the Government has chosen to cut jobs and take money from women's future pay, all so they can give it to tobacco, fossil fuel, and big tech companies. 'Labour would make different choices, investing in jobs, health, and homes to grow the economy and lift living standards for everyone,' Barbara Edmonds said.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Reserve Bank Predicts More Job Losses
The Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Statement predicts a sluggish economy with higher inflation and more job losses. 'Just days after Nicola Willis slashed women's pay in order to deliver her so-called 'Growth Budget', growth is now predicted to slow,' Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. 'The Reserve Bank cited low growth, higher inflation in the short term, and higher unemployment as key reasons why they cut rates today. Rate cuts are good for mortgage-holders, but there are some real alarm bells in the RBNZ's statement. 'Specifically, it projected sluggish economic growth of less than 1% in 2025, and said that inflation will continue to rise in the short term. 'Most concerning, the Reserve Bank warned about a weakening labour market, with unemployment remaining above 5% and expected to climb further this year. That contradicts National's promises of thousands of new jobs in their Budget. Thanks to their choices, more than 15,000 construction jobs have been lost. 'The Government claims to have delivered a 'Growth Budget' but the only growth we can see is growing unemployment, growing prices, and a growing pay gap between men and women. 'Instead of helping people through tough times, the Government has chosen to cut jobs and take money from women's future pay, all so they can give it to tobacco, fossil fuel, and big tech companies. 'Labour would make different choices, investing in jobs, health, and homes to grow the economy and lift living standards for everyone,' Barbara Edmonds said.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Labour's finance spokesperson gives few details about party's fiscal policy targets
Barbara Edmonds made a post-Budget speech at a Porirua Chamber of Commerce event. File picture. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Labour's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says she still has not read the Greens' alternative Budget, while defending a scarcity of fiscal policies of her own. Edmonds made the comments after a post-Budget speech to an audience of about 20 people at a Porirua Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday morning, where she savaged the coalition's plan as a "direct assault" on New Zealand values. During a question-and-answer session at the Supply Room restaurant in Paremata, Edmonds was asked for her views on the Greens' fiscal plan - unveiled a fortnight ago - which included significant new taxes and spending. "No disrespect to my friends in the Greens, but I didn't read their Budget," Edmonds said. "At least they had a plan. I just didn't read their plan." Speaking to reporters afterwards, Edmonds said she would "maybe" get round to reading it after finishing going through the more than 2000 pages of the government's Budget. "I will get to it when I get to it," she said. "I'm one person. My focus has been this government's Budget." Asked for her high-level view on the Greens' proposals based on media coverage, Edmonds observed there was a lot of tax and social spending. "Whether it's balanced or not?... maybe ask me that question after I've read it." Labour leader Chris Hipkins made similar remarks immediately after the Greens released their plan, but later described it as a "huge spend-up" and "unrealistic". Edmonds' speech on Tuesday gave a scathing appraisal of the coalition's Budget: "Make no mistake about it, this will be remembered as the Budget that cut women's pay . "Cutting women's pay to make the Budget add up was a deliberate decision by Nicola Willis... when you take money that has been set aside for future pay rises and put it into something else that is a cut. Plain and simple." She said the Budget was a "direct assault" on New Zealand values: "We're the first country in the world to give women the right to vote. Fighting for equality is in our national DNA. Turning our backs on equal pay is not who we are as Kiwis." Though Edmonds opened her speech by saying she would preview the different choices Labour would have made in the Budget, she gave little detail beyond high-level promises to invest in jobs, health, and homes. "That's how we will build a better future." Quizzed by reporters on a variety of policy proposals, Edmonds repeatedly deferred to the party's yet-to-be-released fiscal plan. She declined to clearly state Labour's position on its preferred debt cap or surplus target, nor whether it would maintain the coalition's Investment Boost tax incentive. Edmonds said she was comfortable with the amount of policy Labour had released thus far and said it would all be "carefully considered". "We will have policy announcements, as Chippy has said, towards the end of the year... but actually, we have this Budget to work through... we've got next Budget to work through... and then we will come out with our fiscal plan. "I know you're eager, and I know you want to find the new hook, but today I was talking about the government's Budget, so you'll just have to wait." When in opposition, the National Party also came under pressure over a lack of policy detail less than a year out from the 2023 election. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
