Labour Christchurch candidates called out for spreading misinformation

Two Christchurch Labour candidates are among several MPs who have been accused of disseminating misleading information.

In a scathing piece, Herald on Sunday Columnist Heather Du Plessis-Allan called out senior Labour MP Andrew Little’s Facebook post where he stated that National and Act intend to “flog off the schools and sack all the teachers.”

Shanan Halbert, Labour’s Northcote MP, came under scrutiny for his post claiming that National and Act were scheming to reduce sick leave from 10 to just 5 days.

Duncan Webb, Labour’s candidate for Christchurch Central, faced similar criticisms for his Facebook assertion that the celebration of Matariki faced discontinuation.

Additionally, he repeated concerns about the 10-day sick leave provision.

Du Plessis-Allan didn't stop there, drawing attention to comments made by Ilam MP, Sarah Pallett, during Parliament’s concluding debates. Pallett stated, “if National and Act form a Government in October… they will stop the winter energy payment”, a claim made despite National's assurance of upholding the payment just six days prior.

She also highlighted the assertion that the centre-right faction would reintroduce "interest on student loans."

Du Plessis-Allan commented, “there are too many repetitions for these fibs to be mistakes. The sick leave, Matariki, and student loan interest lies appear orchestrated, hinting at a coordinated strategy by Labour.”

Dale Aotea Stephens, National’s candidate for Christchurch Central

Leader of The Opportunities Party (TOP), Raf Manji, a former Christchurch Councillor, who’s running in the Ilam seat said “it's disappointing that they are spreading false information and smacks of desperation. 

“There's plenty to critique on all sides and there is no need for mis-information or mis-representation of policies.

“For a government that has made a big deal about that, it's very disappointing. 

“We try to stick to the facts, and answer questions openly and honestly. That's what people expect and want. They will then make up their own minds about how they want to vote” Raf Manji said.

Dale Aotea Stephens, National’s candidate for Christchurch Central, weighed in.

Last week he told Chris Lynch Media “Labour is growing more desperate by the day as they prove they are out of touch with what is happening across our beautiful country.”

Stephens added, “if Webb wishes to champion a campaign riddled with inaccuracies, that's his choice. Yet, for someone of his professional stature, I'd have expected a commitment to factual representation.”

In response to the Herald on Sunday article one reader wrote “New Zealand is so over the condescending of the Kindness and hugs rhetoric. If you drive anywhere you can see the signs of bad economic policy and this is what the election is going to be about as it usually is, unlike 2020 when the election was about covid. Now it is Cost of living, Crime, Government Debt, Co-governance, trade deficit, Health system a mess, education a mess, unemployment going up and businesses going under.”

Another reader wrote “everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it amazes me how many people still think this Government is doing an ok job of running our country and come October are prepared to vote for more of the same.

“I think Gilda Kirkpatrick summed it up perfectly in a Herald article published yesterday. They've had every opportunity for the past six years to show us what they're about. I do not not align or support their mismanagements or their path for our country and our people. Labour and the Greens have instituted irrational and extremely damaging economic and social policies that have torn the very fabric of our once cohesive society apart and that I fear will take years to repair. That's where we are in a nutshell” the reader said.