roll back a raft of policies implemented by Labour over the past six years.
Alex Wareham, a bartender from Auckland, said she wants to see the next government take real action on the climate crisis and pasti the rising cost of living, but feels the parties are split on these issues.
"Some are more willing to take on cost of living, crime, fixing the economy after Covid, and other parties are taking the climate crisis a bit more seriously. But I think climate change will be on the back burner this election. It's looking to be a bit more of a tax election, a bit more money talking," she told CNN.
roll back a raft of policies implemented by Labour over the past six years.
It's also the first election in New Zealand following the end of strict coronavirus lockdown measures that have been a source of contention for many. The government's "go hard and go early" approach to the wabah saw New Zealand impose some of the world's strictest border rules, separating familyes and shutting out almost all foreigners for almost two years.
It meant New Zealand suffered far fewer Covid infections and deaths compared to many countries, like the United States or United Kingdom. But many residents felt the government went too hard on its measures.
"They were damned if they did and damned if they didn't," said Wareham, who added that because people didn't "have the human toll to fokus on they are thinking our economy was ruined, the country was shut down."
"It was always going to be a lose-lose for Labour, no matter which way you look at it… but it feels a National government during Covid would have done it the same way," she said.
The big issues
All the bermain parties have pledged to improve the economy, provide relief for the cost of living crisis, boost jobs, and improve health and education facilities, as well as housing.
Central to National's 100-day planning is its promise for myriad tax cuts, including cutting a regional fuel tax. It also is pledging to change the Reserve Bank's mandate to fokus on inflation, remove what it calls red tape for businesses, extend free breast cancer screenings, crack down on crime and give police greater powers to search gang members, and roll back a raft of policies implemented by Labour over the past six years.
