David Cunliffe

The patchy picture in today's improving GDP figures is still not enough to reassure families struggling to pay their bills and worried about job security, says Labour Finance Spokesperson David Cunliffe.

David Cunliffe said the 0.1 percent economic growth in the June quarter reflected an encouraging upturn in the international economy, "but New Zealand's main job-creating sectors are still falling or flat at best.

"Despite Bill English proclaiming that recovery needs to be export-led, this Government has done nothing to lead growth in the export and productive sectors," David Cunliffe said.

"Manufacturing fell 1.5 percent, and the rise in forestry exports was based on raw logs. When is the Government going to take seriously the need to create jobs and add value within New Zealand?

"So far, National's policies are taking us in the opposite direction. Cancelling research and development tax incentives and the Fast Forward Fund have hurt innovators and exporters, and gutting KiwiSaver will only make the savings gap worse."

David Cunliffe said Labour wants the benefits of the improving economy shared among all hardworking Kiwi families, not just a few.

"Rising electricity, fuel and water prices contributed to the marginal rise in GDP, but made household costs worse

"National's upper income tax cuts will feed wasteful consumption, but do nothing for hardworking Kiwi families in terms of job security, wage increases and easing the burden of paying their bills."

David Cunliffe said: "I challenge Bill English to come up with a real plan to boost exporters and save and create jobs, as Australia has done.

"Only then can struggling families and the needlessly unemployed take comfort from what are the first signs of international recovery," he said.

"But National is still happy to sit on the sidelines instead of getting behind the productive economy. Today's GDP figures show an improving international picture, but nothing has changed for Kiwi families."