From NZ Herald · · 2m
Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon debate minimum wage gaffe
National leader Christopher Luxon admits minimum wage hikes lag inflation after Labour's Chris Hipkins corrects him during leaders' debate.
In brief
National leader Christopher Luxon admits minimum wage hikes lag inflation after Labour's Chris Hipkins corrects him during leaders' debate. National leader Christopher Luxon admitted minimum wage increases lag inflation after Labour's Chris Hipkins corrected him during the leaders' debate. Originally reported by NZ…
Leaders debate starts
National leader Christopher Luxon felt relieved after surviving tough questions on leadership and truth telling in politics.
Minimum wage pledge
Both leaders pledged to lift the minimum wage at the rate of inflation during the debate segment.
Luxon's gaffe
Luxon admitted he did not know the coalition had three times lifted the minimum wage below inflation.
Inflation impact
A 2% wage hike versus 4% inflation costs a full-time worker $950 annually in savings.
Labour's policy
Labour raised minimum wage above inflation, putting pressure on businesses during their term.
Hipkins' correction
Hipkins reminded Luxon that the coalition had never lifted the minimum wage at the rate of inflation.
Policy knowledge
Hipkins used deeper policy knowledge to point out Luxon's missteps during the debate.
Country music test
Hipkins completed Dolly Parton's '9-to-5' lyrics before Luxon during the country music segment.
Pay equity reforms
Luxon struggled to explain coalition's pay equity reforms which would be litigated on the campaign.
Housing equity
Luxon defended housing equity after National allowed councils to reintroduce minimum car park requirements.
Capital gains tax
Luxon warned capital gains tax risks eroding home equity and prolonging economic downturn.
Debate outcome
The debate did not shift campaign momentum despite Luxon's strong housing equity argument.
Ministerial portfolios
Hipkins blocked Green and Te Pāti Māori from police and justice portfolios in any government he leads.
Qiulae Wong
Qiulae Wong might have won the debate after spending the night at a finance debate in Queenstown.
Campaign impact
Luxon's minimum wage gaffe did not change voters' perception of him as out of touch with low-income people.
What happens next
National will likely focus on anti-capital gains tax campaign before voting starts.
Here's the gist
National leader Christopher Luxon admitted minimum wage increases lag inflation after Labour's Chris Hipkins corrected him during the leaders' debate.
