Election 2023: Helen Clark releases video calling for people to vote Labour

Helen Clark calls for Kiwis to party vote Labour in pre-election campaign video.
Helen Clark calls for Kiwis to party vote Labour in pre-election campaign video. Photo credit: Twitter/X @nzlabour

Former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark has shared a pre-election video calling for people in New Zealand to vote for Labour, saying Chris Hipkins is "in it for you".

The one-minute video was shared to Twitter/X under New Zealand Labour, presenting Clark, framed from the shoulders upwards, talking straight into the camera.

Clark said she's seen a few elections in her time, and understands that when times are tough it's "natural to look for change", however, "the question is, change to what?" she asked. "Change to tax cuts that deliver so little to people on low incomes?

"Tax cuts funded by skipping on the basic services Kiwis rely on, and selling our houses to off-shore buyers?" she continued. "Policies like those would deepen poverty and inequality in our country."

"Chris Hipkins and Labour have plans to help with the cost of living, including funding basic dental care - free for under 30s, and removing the $5 prescription charge," she added.

She admitted that no Government is perfect, but stated that Chris Hipkins "will work every day for you".

"He's in it for you, and that's why I'm asking you to party vote Labour."

During a media stand-up in Auckland on Sunday morning, Hipkins hinted that former Prime Minister Jacinda Adern could too make an appearance.

"I'm not going to release the final strategy of our last six days of campaigning, but you can expect to see a very visible and active campaign from Labour," he said. 

"Like Geoffrey Palmer?" one reporter asked to the amusement of Hipkins. 

"Geoffrey is a staunch supporter of the Labour Party and you may well see him in the next week," he responded. "I'll ring him straight after this."

"Will Jacinda Adern wade out?" another reporter asked.

"Look that's a matter for Jacinda," Hipkins responded. "Look I'm not going to release the full day-by-day, blow-by-blow account of the last week of our campaign," he stressed. "You'll just have to wait and see."

It comes after Sir John Key took to social media on Thursday, in a campaign video calling for people to party vote for National. 

"If you want something different than we've had in the last six years then you're going to need to vote for it," he said.

"Make sure National has the numbers to get our country back on track."