National has unveiled its 100-point plan for rebuilding the economy, a list of policies it has announced ahead of this year's election.
It focuses its plan on what it says are the six key drivers of growth:
- Stopping wasteful spending and getting the books back in order
- Delivering tax relief to encourage hard work and to ease the cost-of-living crisis
- Cutting red tape to make it easier to invest and grow
- Building infrastructure for growth like roads, public transport and renewable energy
- Growing skills and attracting talent to boost productivity
- Strengthening connections to the world by supporting trade and investment
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says his is the only party with a plan to rebuild the economy to get ahead.
"Inflation is at 6 percent, the Reserve Bank forecasts the economy is now in recession, the IMF says next year New Zealand's economy will grow by just one percent, our current account deficit is the largest in the developed world, and last year 40,000 New Zealanders left the country for good.
"National's 100-point plan will deliver the strong economy we need so Kiwis don't have to keep moving overseas to find opportunities to get ahead."
Luxon said that when you strip out the noise of the election, it "all boils down to one thing, and that is the economy".
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
All Kiwis know the economy is in bad shape, he said.
The economy is "not just about the numbers" but about the people and the decisions we make, he said.
A strong economy pays for more of the things New Zealanders need, he said.
Luxon said he backs his ability to lead a coalition that would likely involve ACT and possibly New Zealand First.
Asked if he trusted New Zealand First's Winston Peters, Luxon said to New Zealanders, "don't put this election at risk".
Luxon said he did not want New Zealanders to do anything but party vote National.