Avneet Kaur, Auckland
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has made a direct pitch to New Zealand’s Sikh and migrant communities during a visit to Takanini Gurudwara on Sunday, promising action on the cost of living while saying racism from political leaders would not be tolerated under a government he leads.
Addressing the congregation, just six days before election day, Hipkins opened with “Sat Sri Akal” and said it was “wonderful to be here” before urging people who had not yet voted to take part in the election.
Hipkins was joined by Labour’s Takanini candidate Kharg Singh, alongside MPs, former MPs, candidates and party volunteers including Jenny Salesa, Willie Jackson, Arena Williams, Neru Leavasa, Rakesh Naidoo, Anahlia Kanongata’a, Lemauga Lydia and others.
He strongly endorsed Singh, highlighting his community and business experience and saying he hoped to see him in Parliament after the election.
A large part of Hipkins’ address focused on the cost of living, jobs, healthcare and housing — issues he said were among the biggest pressures facing families.
“You work incredibly hard,” Hipkins told those gathered, saying Labour wanted to ensure people received the benefits of that work and had opportunities to build prosperous lives in New Zealand.
He also acknowledged the economic contribution of the Indian community, saying Kiwi Indians contributed more than $37 billion to New Zealand.
Hipkins then turned to racism and discrimination, saying migrant communities had increasingly found themselves exposed to divisive rhetoric.
He said political leaders should be held to a particularly high standard and pledged that any minister or Labour MP engaging in racist behaviour under his leadership would face consequences.
His message was that people should be able to be themselves in New Zealand without being targeted because of their background.
Hipkins also used the visit to promote Labour’s wider cost-of-living platform.
Labour has promised three free GP visits a year through a new Medicard, the removal of the $5 prescription charge, a three-year fuel-tax freeze, assistance for households installing solar power and measures targeting grocery prices.
The party says its first Cabinet meeting would begin work on the fuel-tax freeze, healthcare changes and measures targeting price gouging and supermarket competition.
Hipkins told the congregation healthcare affordability had become a serious concern, pointing to New Zealanders delaying visits to doctors because of cost.
Hipkins said around one in six New Zealanders cannot afford to see a doctor when sick, one of the reasons it is proposing three free GP visits each year.
He also highlighted Labour’s plans for small businesses, saying the party wanted local firms to have a fairer opportunity to compete and secure government work.
Labour’s published policy includes measures aimed at improving small-business cash flow, reducing paperwork and giving New Zealand firms greater access to government contracts.
Singh’s own experience running grocery businesses was singled out by Hipkins, who said that practical knowledge would be useful in Parliament as Labour pursued changes to supermarket competition and grocery pricing.
Labour has proposed opening supermarket wholesale supply to greater competition, alongside making excessive price gouging on essentials illegal.
Hipkins also spoke directly to migrant families considering their future in New Zealand.
He said many had made significant sacrifices to establish their lives here and that their children should be able to see a future for themselves in the country rather than feeling they needed to leave.
He thanked migrant communities for their contribution and said Labour wanted a New Zealand where prosperity and opportunity were shared more widely.
With advance voting already underway, Hipkins finished by encouraging everyone eligible to exercise their vote, telling supporters they did not need to wait until election day.
He then made a direct appeal for support for Labour and Kharg Singh in Takanini, saying the party wanted a strong turnout in the final week of campaigning.
Source: The NZ Today on-ground coverage at Takanini Gurudwara
