Prices, crime, environment: key issues in New Zealand's election

Prices, crime, environment: key issues in New Zealand's election
by AFP Staff Writers
Wellington (AFP) Oct 12, 2023

New Zealanders vote in a general election on Saturday with the centre-left Labour government seeking a third-straight term in office.

According to polls, cost-of-living, crime and the environment are among the key issues for voters.

- Cost-of-living -

Prices at the supermarket check-out and petrol pump have soared over the last 12 months for New Zealanders.

Grocery prices rose nearly 11 percent in September versus the previous year, according to Stats NZ. Prices at the petrol pump have also shot up since a government fuel subsidy ended in July.

Overall, the weekly spend for the average household has risen NZ$240 (US$144) over the last three years, according to an analysis by economic consultants Infometrics.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins hopes to ease the burden with a 10-point plan to lower costs including free prescriptions and the scrapping of tax on fresh fruit and vegetables to knock $5 off the weekly shop.

Opposition leader Chris Luxon says his National party will tax cuts worth up to $125 per week to an average-income family.

- Crime -

Following an increase in youth and retail crimes, Hipkins has admitted "Kiwis have had a gutsful of people acting as if the rules don't apply to them".

"The system needs a shake-up," he added last July in announcing changes to give police greater powers.

In the 12 months to June, the number of 10 to 17-year-olds facing charges in court rose 15 percent, according to Ministry of Justice figures.

The murder of a store owner in Auckland last November highlighted rising burglary numbers -- in what is usually one of the world's safest countries.

Police say the 899 ram-raid style burglaries of shops and other retail businesses in 2022 was nearly double that of the previous year.

Both Labour and National have pledged to put 300 extra police officers on the streets over the next four years.

- Environment -

New Zealand plans to offset its greenhouse gas emissions with a target of being net-zero by 2050.

Labour wants to establish a "Minister for Just Transitions" to oversee the switch to a low-emissions economy.

Just under half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture.

An emissions pricing scheme for farmers -- essentially a tax on livestock burps and farts -- is due to start in 2025 under Labour, while National would delay it until 2030.

National wants to shift the transport and energy sectors to clean fuel by speeding up the approval process for solar, wind and geothermal projects.

New Zealand currently has 399 charging stations for vehicles listed by the Transport Agency.

To help switch from petrol, National wants to have 10,000 public charging points by 2030, while Labour plans to provide charging hubs every 150-200 kilometres on main highways.