Labour Party getting 'fired up' for election at annual conference

<p>Labour Party candidates and members are rallying in Wellington, with leader Chris Hipkins saying it is a chance for the party to get "fired up" ahead of the election.</p> <p><b>By Giles Dexter of </b><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/626620/labour-party-getting-fired-up-for-election-at-annual-conference" target="_blank"><b>RNZ</b></a></p> <p>The party's annual conference - which Labour calls a congress in election years - comes after a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/06/23/poll-big-two-parties-at-30-year-low-opportunity-nears-5-threshold/" target="_blank">recent poll showing a drop for Labour</a>, but the party is still ahead of National.</p> <p>Earlier this week, Hipkins said the congress would be about organising for the election campaign.</p> <p>"We'll get our members all fired up, we'll be talking about the campaign ahead, and it'll be an opportunity for us to talk about some of the new talent that we've got standing for us, showcase some of our new candidates who are going to make a huge contribution here in Parliament, and basically get onto the election year footing that we're all heading towards."</p> <p>On Saturday, attendees will hear from party president Jill Day and deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni, as well as an address from finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds.</p> <p>On Sunday, Hipkins will address the party faithful, and is expected to announce a policy.</p> <p>Much of the two-day congress is closed to media, and the party is keeping quiet on what area the policy announcement may be in.</p> <p>Hipkins only teased there would be "some" policy.</p> <p>"You'll just have to wait and see," he said.</p> <p>After a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/05/17/hipkins-on-why-labour-hasnt-made-more-major-policy-announcements/" target="_blank">period of silence from the party on the policy front</a>, policy announcements have started to come thick and fast.</p> <p>Labour has now made a series of announcements in health, including <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/28/chris-hipkins-talks-capital-gains-tax-party-leaders-respond/" target="_blank">free doctor's visits</a>, free prescriptions, free cervical screening, and <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/06/16/labour-pledges-free-maternity-scans-on-promised-medicard/" target="_blank">free maternity scans</a>.</p> <p>These would be funded through the party's <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/28/chris-hipkins-talks-capital-gains-tax-party-leaders-respond/" target="_blank">capital gains tax</a>.</p> <p>It has also announced a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/06/14/25-a-week-labour-grilled-on-public-transport-savings-claim/" target="_blank">$20 public transport cap</a> and a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/20/nz-future-fund-labour-reveals-first-major-policy-for-next-election/" target="_blank">Future Fund</a>, although details on the latter are being kept quiet until after the election.</p> <p>Most recently, Labour's housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty announced a Crown guarantee for Community Housing Funding Agency social bonds.</p> <p>With just over four months to go until the election, Labour's polling is staying relatively stable in the early-to-mid-30s.</p> <p>The party did suffer a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/06/23/party-leaders-react-to-new-1news-poll-play-down-newcomers-rise/" target="_blank">five-point slump in this week's 1 News Verian poll</a>, dropping to 32%.</p> <p>However, in that poll, Labour was still ahead of National, and the left bloc would have the numbers to form a government.</p> <p>On Wednesday, Sepuloni told Morning Report the poll was "inconsistent" with other polls Labour had seen in recent weeks, which showed the party in a more favourable light.</p> <p>Labour has also joined the Greens in being early out of the gate with its party list. National, ACT, and New Zealand First are yet to release their rankings.</p> <p>The ACT Party is also holding its rally on Sunday in Auckland, with the party expected to unveil its new deputy leader.</p> <p>Current deputy leader Brooke van Velden is stepping down at the election.</p> <p>National held its annual general meeting (AGM) last week, with the party announcing its KiwiSaver policy while also taking a dig at its coalition partners.</p> <p>New Zealand First and the Green Party are expected to hold their AGMs next month.<a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/626620/labour-party-getting-fired-up-for-election-at-annual-conference" target="_blank"><b></b></a></p>