Labour leader Chris Hipkins has called the Prime Minister's State of the Nation address a "whole lot of management speak mumbo jumbo".
Christopher Luxon has delivered his first speech of the year, to the Auckland Business Chamber.
Luxon launched a defence of his government's progress and reform programme, and promised there would be no deviation from its plan should it win a second term.
The Labour leader responds to Luxon's State of the Nation speech. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
He said National would continue with its savings programme at this year's Budget, and that there would be no "extravagant" election promises from National this election, saying any party that wanted to increase spending would need to increase borrowing or taxes.
Hipkins said Luxon's adddress had shown he had no vision and no plan for New Zealand's future.
"We need a vision. We need a plan for the future and it's clear only Labour can deliver that."
While Luxon did not single out Labour in his speech, or any other party, he warned that any party that wanted to "ramp up spending" would need to borrow it or raise taxes.
Hipkins said that was more of a reflection on Luxon's own policies.
"Grant Robertson and I both told him that the tax cuts that they had promised were unaffordable, and we were absolutely right. They plunged the country into a structural deficit that they have no plan to get us out of."
In terms of Labour's plans for the upcoming election, Hipkins said the party had plenty to talk about and would do so.
"Luxon should focus on delivering on the political promises that he made," Hipkins said, which he said included fixing the housing crisis and making healthcare more accessible.
"Things are getting harder for Kiwis not better."
He criticised Luxon for not mentioning housing or healthcare in his speech, and focusing on slogans instead of substance.
"New Zealand can be a much better country than this. We can create good, well paid jobs here in New Zealand, we can make homes affordable again so that New Zealanders can aspire to home ownership. We can create the sort of country where our kids want to stay and create a future rather than leave and go overseas."
Luxon defended the content of his speech, saying he only had 20 minutes and wanted to "paint some pretty big, broad brushstrokes" on where the country was sitting and what the government was thinking.
He said housing and health were "important issues," but his speech was about explaining "the framework and the plan."
Both National and Labour will gather for their respective summer caucus retreats on Wednesday, where Luxon is expected to announce the election dates.
Hipkins would not give away what would be discussed at Labour's retreat, and would not be drawn on whether any Labour MPs would be retiring.
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