Election 2026: Labour promises fresh school lunches and rural bus routes
New Zealand's Labour Party has unveiled a 'Cost of Living Action Plan' ahead of the 2026 election, promising to restore school lunches and rural bus routes. The party aims to contrast its fiscal plan with the current government's performance.
Why it matters
This highlights the central role of economic policy and cost-of-living concerns in upcoming national elections.
Labour promises to bring back fresh, locally made school lunches and restore rural school bus routes as part of its plan to ease household costs.
The commitments are part of the party’s Cost of Living Action Plan, which includes three free GP visits a year, capped public transport fares, and a three-year fuel tax freeze.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said getting living costs under control was the party’s top priority, with people working hard but having less money left at the end of each week.
“The weekly groceries. Seeing a doctor. Power bills. Petrol. It all adds up.”
Hipkins accused Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of failing to deliver on his promise to fix the cost of living.
“Christopher Luxon promised to fix the cost of living, but under National things have gotten worse. New Zealand can’t afford another three years of National making life harder and more expensive.
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