We’re facing a crisis of job losses in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and it’s time to be upfront about the reality. Cuts under this National government have gone too far.
The National government’s deep budget cuts are a short-sighted move and are now having serious consequences, driving job losses and keeping a handbrake on our local economy.
More than 10,000 jobs have disappeared from our city in just a year. Behind every one of these lost jobs is a whānau struggling to make ends meet on the back of a cost-of-living crisis that already pushed people to the edge.
Let’s be clear, our people bear the brunt of these economic shocks, with Māori unemployment sharply rising to 9.2% and Pasifika to 9.9%. Both nearly double the general rate placing Māori and Pasifika communities at the forefront of those feeling the strain.
Work isn’t just about the pay packet; it’s about the mana, the dignity, and the chance to support whānau. When jobs go, that support goes with them. If we fail to plug the gaps now, it’s our whānau who will be left to pick up the pieces, stretched thinner than ever.
Slashing services so drastically sends shockwaves through our communities.
Auckland businesses are liquidating at twice the rate of other regions, a clear sign that these cuts are straining both support systems and the private sector. When services get gutted, it’s not just the funding that’s lost; it’s the support, resources, and opportunities people need to stay afloat and keep businesses viable.
And these effects aren’t just for now, they’re setting up future governments and our children to shoulder even heavier costs. Struggling businesses means fewer jobs and more people on benefits, worsening health, and extra pressure on our already strained public health system. In other words, every dollar saved by cutting services today will cost us double down the track as worsening social issues adds up.
Let’s not allow this issue to be dismissed as just another “cost of doing business” for Auckland. Every job lost sends ripples through our community, whānau unable to pay rent, tamariki going without, and rangatahi with fewer reasons to hope.
Cuts may help balance the books for today, but who’s really paying the price? It’s our communities today and our mokopuna tomorrow. If we’re not careful, we’ll look back on this time and realise we didn’t just lose jobs; we lost the chance to support and strengthen our whānau and communities and set up a stable future. We need a clear focus on practical steps that provide real stability and opportunity, so that the cost of these cuts isn’t passed down to those who come after us.
