Minor party leaders dominate BusinessNZ conference as major parties spar over fiscal policy

At the BusinessNZ election conference held at Wellington’s Takina convention centre, minor party leaders outshone the major parties with pointed remarks on the coalition’s economic and environmental record. Act’s David Seymour highlighted the tripling of national debt since the pre-Covid era and criticised the expanding ministerial portfolio as mere virtue-signalling. New Zealand First’s Winston Peters dismissed the government's spending-as-a-percentage-of-GDP formula and demanded consequences for the troubled Transmission Gully public-private partnership.

Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick appealed to the business audience to champion genuine climate measures and a fairer economy. National leader Christopher Luxon reiterated his optimism and stressed fiscal responsibility, while Labour leader Chris Hipkins warned that further cuts would strain households already burdened by high living costs.