Andrew Little
Leader of the Opposition

MEDIA STATEMENT

27 May 2016

Real wages go backwards for next two years

New Zealanders’ real wages will fall for the next two years as the cost of living outpaces forecast pay rises, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little.

“New Zealanders have been doing it tough for far too long. They expect to get a real pay rise after years of belt tightening. National is going to have to look middle New Zealand in the eye and tell them that’s not going to happen.

“The Budget projections show that real wages will actually fall in 2017 and 2018 as wage growth will be outpaced by inflation.

“Most New Zealanders believe that if you work hard you will get a fair share of the rewards. Under National that’s not going to happen. Kiwis are going backwards.

“This Government is focused on those at the top while most New Zealand families miss out. We need a real plan that will deliver higher wages for middle New Zealand,” says Andrew Little.

ends

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