Things are looking up

• By Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister

The last few years have been tough for New Zealanders dealing with an economy that had gone off track, but we’ve turned the corner and things are looking up.

Data shows that rising domestic confidence is expected to grow our economy faster and stronger over the next couple of years.

Businesses are putting more money back into their operations and this growth in business investment is carrying momentum across the economy.

National has been focused on growing the economy because that is how we create more jobs and lift wages.

When we came into government, inflation and interest rates were out of control. We’ve worked hard to fix this to improve the cost of living.

Annual rent increases are now at their lowest in 25 years – compared to an increase of $180 a week under Labour.

Food inflation rose by 1.9 per cent in the year to July – compared to when they rose 12.5 per cent in one year under Labour.

Exports are up $20 billion under National, and our economic plan is set to create 220,000 new jobs over the next four years.

All this can only happen because of National’s sensible economic management.

We have delivered tax relief, cut wasteful spending, lowered inflation and eased pressure on interest rates, and delivered more funding to frontline services.

But we cannot take our economic recovery for granted – and there is a myriad of politicians lining up to take it away from you.

Kiwis have a clear choice at the election. Labour has $18 billion in spending promises and needs to find the money to pay for it.

That means more taxes are coming. Conveniently for Labour, its prospective coalition partners in the Greens, Te Pāti Māori and TOP are all proposing a raft of new taxes.

Between the four parties, there are nine new taxes on the table to pay for Labour’s bill.

These taxes will destroy growth in our economy, worsen your cost of living, and mean fewer jobs and lower wages.

If you back yourself to get that pay rise or new job, you have to vote for it.

National is the only party with the plan and the ideas to take New Zealand forward, and to keep our economy growing.

National is focused on fixing the basics and building a stronger future so people in our community can get ahead and build a better life.

That means a growing economy with better jobs, higher wages, low taxes, and more opportunities for you and your family.