Labour Leader Chris Hipkins arrived in Hamilton today to meet with local businesses and outline key policy commitments focused on tackling the cost of living and relieving pressure on public healthcare.
Addressing local business leaders and the community, Hipkins emphasised Labour’s plan to protect household budgets by targeting unfair commercial billing practices and eliminating loyalty penalties charged by power, internet, and insurance providers.
This election is about the cost of living. Household bills have gone up under National, and every dollar counts, Chris Hipkins said. “Too often, people who stay with the same phone, internet or insurance company for years end up paying more than a new customer. Labour will make sure companies treat their customers fairly.
Consumer Protection Policy
Under the plan, Labour has pledged to implement strict consumer rules:
- Stop loyalty penalties: Ban phone, internet, and insurance companies from charging existing, long-term customers higher rates than new subscribers.
- Prevent deal-end rate hikes: Prohibit service providers from automatically transitioning consumers onto expensive plans when introductory offers expire, requiring transparent notices and disclosures of cheaper alternatives.
- Ban fake discounts: Mandate that all advertised promotional discounts be based on the lowest price charged for that product or service over the previous 30 days.
Labour Commerce and Consumer Affairs spokesperson Arena Williams noted that regulatory intervention is required to ensure genuine savings, referencing recent Commerce Commission actions against supermarket pricing.
Kiwis work hard. They deserve fair prices, honest deals, and more left over at the end of the week, Arena Williams said.
Healthcare Pledges
Alongside consumer protections, Labour reiterated its primary health platform aimed at rebuilding public hospital capacity and expanding access to primary care.
Labour Health spokesperson Dr. Ayesha Verrall criticised ongoing staffing constraints, highlighting extended wait times and emergency declarations in regional hospitals.
Three years of National’s cuts and staffing restrictions have left our hospitals under enormous strain and patients waiting far too long for care, Dr. Ayesha Verrall said.
To support the public health workforce and reduce patient costs, Labour pledged to:
- End staffing freezes: Remove current hiring restrictions across public health facilities.
- Guarantee graduate nurse jobs: Guarantee employment within the public health system for every eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurse.
- Free primary care visits: Provide three free GP visits per year for all New Zealanders to reduce front-end medical costs.
Labour’s campaign visit to Hamilton continues its core focus on frontline public services, infrastructure, and targeted cost-of-living relief.