Labour currently has 34 MPs. The leader is David Cunnliffe. This is a left-wing party but centre left so there is often not a great deal of difference between the National and Labour Parties. Supporters are usually members of a union and that includes teachers who mostly belong to a teachers’ union. It also includes workers in factories, on the wharfs, in shops, restaurants and offices. People of course are free to vote for whoever they want to.
Labour says their main policy is to have a more equal society. An increase in the minimum wage is one main policy and an increase in tax from 33% to 36% for those people who earn more than $150,000 a year. The party also plans to build more houses which are not too expensive for families to buy.
One big difference between the two main parties this election is that the Labour Party wants to bring in a Capital Gains Tax on the sale of businesses and houses, but not a person’s own home. If someone makes a profit on selling a property or business, that is a capital gain. Other plans are to reduce the cost of electricity, and raise the superannuation age to 67. (It is now 65). Like the National Party, there would be free doctors’ visits for children up to the age of 13, but Labour also wants free doctors’ visits for people over the age of 65.
However, the Labour Party is not likely to win 61 seats in Parliament so would need to form a coalition with another party. This would probably be the Green Party.
Go to The Labour Party website to read more.
See also Who do I vote for? September 10th.
Vocabulary
• currently – now, at the moment
• union – workers join a union which tries to improve working conditions and pay
• policy – plan based on their beliefs
• coalition – two or more parties join together