Kia ora koutou, thank you everyone for coming out.

Crowd numbering in the thousands cheer

This is the first election in a long time that Labour has had the ability to push for leadership of the government, and that is something to be proud of. The labour party has a long tradition on focussing on improving the livelihoods of everyday New Zealanders, and this Labour party is no different, so to show you this, I will outline some key policy that will form the basis of what Labour will bring to government, if the people of New Zealand decide to elect them.

Looking after people:

This policy is simple, Labour knows that its difficult to live in an everchanging world, and protection for this, is one of the biggest things we can promise New Zealanders this election. Labour will:

• Maintain the policy of a guaranteed minimum income for all new zealanders over the age of 18.

• Implement a scheme that dictates workers under the age of 18 will have a 0 tax threshold set at $15,000 meaning that these workers will have a lower tax rate, than those over the age of 18. This will facilitate more positive outcomes for those entering the workforce for the first time.

• Ensure that people have places to live, by increasing the number of social houses by 10000 each year, in addition Labour will launch a policy dubbed "Whakapukepuke" which will facilitate the building of new medium density townhouses in areas with a high demand for housing, in a rent to buy scheme.

• Increase health funding to allow for more conditions to be covered by the New Zealand health system, this will allow for greater outcomes, due to lower staff:patient ratio's, further funding for procedures and medications, and shorting waiting times.

Looking after our environment

New Zealand's environment is one of its major assets, and it is therefore important to make sure that we are looking after it properly. To ensure this is the case Labour will:

• Work with electricity companies to re-nationalise energy production via the purchase of the 49% of electricity companies currently trading on the NZX, and their assets. In addition new renewable power generation, and storage will be constructed to move New Zealand towards 100% renewable energy, a key Climate Change Goal.

• Ban the import of Internal Combustion powered vehicles by 2035, and use subsidies to promote the purchase of lower emission transport options such as e-bikes, e-scooters, EVs and Hybrids.

• Repeal and Reform the Resource Management Act, moving from an effects-based approach towards, a more holistic approach to resource management, with the new legislation heavily impacted by experts from all of New Zealand's Universities and Polytechnics.

• Make it a priority to clean up New Zealand's rivers by taking action against the biggest polluters, the dairy industry, by disincentivising the intensification of dairy towards cleaner options. Encourage riparian planing on waterways to mitigate risk from runoff from farms.

Improving our infrastructure

For decades there has been criminal underinvestment in New Zealands infrastructure, and only in the past few years has this begun to be changed. Labour wants to continue this trend and pledges:

• To build the Lake Onslow Battery project, designed to give the Clutha hydro power system the equivalent of a years worth of Auckland's electricity needs for dry years.

• Upgrade the HVDC and include the Manapouri power station in the scheme, to allow for the energy to be used if the withdrawal of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter takes place.

• Continue to electrify the New Zealand rail network, and make the midland line between Greymouth and Christchurch a priority.

• Purchase new interisland ferries, with the capability to carry rail cargo over Cook Strait.

• Implement the 'Vision Zero' for the New Zealand road network, and make the safety improvements required, starting with State Highways 1-8, then move on to State Highway 10-99.

• Allow for a fund to be put aside to improve passing facilities especially in areas where traffic begins to build up behind heavy vehicles.

These policies are going to form the basis of much of the Labour campaigning, and it is therefore important that all of those people who wish to see the country improve, and believe that we are the people to make the changes they want to see, to vote 2 ticks Labour!