October 02, 2023
Covid puts stamp on Labour campaign
Labour is heading into the final two weeks of the election campaign with its leader sidelined by Covid-19.
Chris Hipkins tested positive yesterday, after feeling cold and flu symptoms.
He will isolate for 5 days or until he returns a negative test, but will continue with engagements he can undertake via zoom.
The blow meant the party’s manifesto release at Rānui yesterday was handled by deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni,
It includes a maths and literacy training fund for teachers, and an extra $43 million to give young people who have dropped out or been expelled from school pathways back into education and training,
Labour would also fund two million hours of catch-up learning in maths and literacy for seven to 13 year olds, provide 20 hours of early childhood education free for two-year-olds from next year, and continue the free school lunches programmes.
National released its 100 day action plan, including restoring 90-day employment trial periods for all businesses, repeal Labour’s Affordable Water legislation, banning gang patches, making gang membership an aggravating factor at sentencing, stopping taxpayer funding for section 27 cultural reports, ban cellphones in schools, and introduce legislation to scrap the Māori Health Authority.