2026 should be a year of real choices

When the Prime Minister suggests we shouldn't expect much from them this election year, it implies New Zealand can't afford the clear-eyed thinking needed to secure a sustainable, productive future.

But the suggestion that we can't afford to invest in key infrastructure projects or job creation is an argument we must push back on. And cutting public spending and selling assets also undermines our region's long-term success. Because the question isn't whether we can afford these investments, but it's whether we can afford not to make them.

Between 2017 and 2023, Labour backed rural communities. We opened new export opportunities and market access, and we invested in research and development to improve productivity. At the same time, we worked with farmers to improve waterways and address climate change - and protecting rural communities for the future. With nearly one third of Canterbury's rivers deemed unsafe for swimming this summer, Labour's values are more relevant now than ever.

We:

• Secured seven new and upgraded trade deals, including with the UK and EU - against the odds.
• Eradicated mycoplasma bovis, a world-first achievement that protected the national herd and ensured better returns for farmers.
• Funded 200+ catchment groups to restore water quality within a generation.
• Upgraded 542 rural schools, many of which had been neglected for years.
• Improved mobile networks and connectivity for over 84,000 rural homes and businesses.
• Invested in rural mental health services, part of our work to build a mental health system from the ground up, including Rural Access and Choice Support and Rural Support Trusts.
• Funded rural hubs and resilience projects, responded to major weather events, and set aside $6 billion for infrastructure to ensure rural communities were prepared and protected (now scrapped).

When in government, we provided a clear direction to lay the foundation for a stronger future, and our rural communities need that vision to continue.

As we approach the 2026 election, Labour remains focused on what matters most: real action on the cost of living, creating decent jobs, and making healthcare and housing affordable for all New Zealanders. But we’ll do more than just meet our priorities. We’ll support farmers to build a stronger, more resilient rural economy. As we look ahead to 2026, we must ask ourselves: Do we really want to continue to follow a party that looks for excuses to delay a better future?

Jo Luxton is Labour’s spokesperson for agriculture.