Table of Contents
Summarised by Centrist
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour says New Zealanders face the “tough reality” of higher prices as the Iran war pushes up energy and transport costs.
He cited Maersk’s reported 27% fuel surcharge on New Zealand import land transport and Marley lifting plastic guttering prices by 20%.
Asked about warnings New Zealand could face a “stagflationary environment” of low growth and high inflation, Seymour said the answer was stronger productivity, real wage growth and cutting red tape.
He also said the government was “open-minded” about helping the United States reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but only after a ceasefire and only with broad political support.
“We’re not going into a conflict zone,” Seymour said, adding that keeping trade moving through sea lanes is in New Zealand’s interest.
Seymour also defended ACT’s new immigration policy. He rejected claims that the proposals were largely “posturing”.
The six-point plan includes a $6 daily “infrastructure surcharge” on temporary work visas. Seymour said, “I can see a world where we raise $80 million on this daily levy on temporary visas. Imagine for a moment every couple of years opening a new courthouse, police station, small hospital, saying migrants to New Zealand funded this, we’re actually contributing to infrastructure.”
He said enforcement also needs tightening, with Immigration NZ aware of an estimated 20,000 overstayers last year.
Seymour argued that the skills mix is wrong, saying 2,500 visas had been issued for fast-food workers over four years, compared with only 30 for biomedical engineers.
“That’s not really the skill that most people have in mind,” he said.
