Do you believe that the rush into AI is happening too quickly amidst a changing market of its value and cost?

It's certainly important that we adapt and that we adapt fast.

AI is changing the way that we work, how we access services and how we make decisions.

And what Labour will do is make sure that that works for Kiwis.

Because if used well, AI has huge, huge benefits.

Things like cutting hospital paperwork so doctors and nurses have more time with patients.

Workers and small businesses can be more productive and certain services can be delivered more efficiently.

Do you think that this, for example, overseas supermarkets expanding would benefit economic incentives and competition over the idea of a state-owned supermarket?

Do you believe that the rush into AI is happening too quickly amidst a changing market of its value and cost?

It's certainly important that we adapt and that we adapt fast.

AI is changing the way that we work, how we access services and how we make decisions.

And what Labour will do is make sure that that works for Kiwis.

Because if used well, AI has huge, huge benefits.

Things like cutting hospital paperwork so doctors and nurses have more time with patients.

Workers and small businesses can be more productive and certain services can be delivered more efficiently.

Do you think that this, for example, overseas supermarkets expanding would benefit economic incentives and competition over the idea of a state-owned supermarket?

Are there concerns that such a ban, if implemented in New Zealand, would be ineffective at dealing with the problems it's trying to tackle?

Well, that's, uh, the exact reason why we want to take the bill through its first reading into select committee.

We want to make sure that, you know, a wide range of Kiwis get the opportunity to have their say on this, to identify some of the key gaps that, that are in this legislation.

It's certainly not perfect, but that's exactly what the select committee process, uh, pathway is designed to do.

We want to improve that, um, but most of all, we think it's the right time to get on with it.

Uh, it's, there's been a lot of talk over the past year.

Uh, the National Party announced it.

What do you think now about the National Party ruling that out, and is a bed night levy something that Labor would be open to in future?

Why do you believe the youth enrolment is so low in this election period?

Well I think that the Electoral Commission can do a better job at getting out to young voters, getting them enrolled, but we know that the National Government under Christopher Luxton changed the law and have made it harder for people to enrol to vote.

Just last week we saw the dormant role issue come out that's affected thousands of voters across the country.

They tend to be younger.

And so that's why it's important that we do have rules that allow people to enrol and vote on the same day.

But this government has made that change and people can no longer do that.

So we're doing the heavy lifting.

the national leadership challenge which has dominated the headlines over the last week or so um practically do you think this was kind of much ado about nothing

What is it that Labour would like to see happen going forward with the apprenticeship boost?

Yeah, this policy announcement will expand the existing apprenticeship boost programme from one year to two years.

The reason why that's important is it continues the wage subsidy support that goes to employers.

We want more employers to create work opportunities for young people.

That's one of the main goals in this particular policy.

And we know that it's worked in the past.

a high peak in the number of young people participating in apprenticeships.

Is this an offset to that? Is this a way of keeping people in the country?

Shannon, so what's happening at the moment? They get one year, and then are they dumping the apprentice?

Yeah, the apprenticeship boost has always been a two-year programme when established under Labour.

National cut that back to one year, and they reduced the amount that was allocated to support employers to bring tradies on.

So what we've put up is adding in the second year, we've extended the eligibility criteria to include additional industries.

We want as many apprentices into work as possible, and we want them to finish their qualifications.

What is the drop-off rate being between when you had it at two and when it was dropped to one?

Yeah, when we saw numbers grow of apprentices, it started about a 30-35% withdrawal rate.

That's for a number of reasons that can range from a young person suffering from poor mental health.

Does Labour share that concern, and could further protections be put in place under a Labour government to ensure our public land doesn't see such sales going forward?

Well, nationals refuse to rule out selling some of our most high-value conservation land, and I think of places like Aotea Conservation Park, Cathedral Clothes, And then I think about the reaction from iwi that they are offended by this, that's had to go to court to be able to sort this out.

And I think in principle, at the very least, that should there be a sale, that these would be available for iwi in the first place and that they shouldn't have to pay for it as a part of a Waitangi claim.

How does Labour balance those economic benefits against environmental risks?

Well, you can walk and chew gum at the same time, and this is where the National-led government and Christopher Luxon continue to fail our environment and treaty rights.

It's important that while they can create jobs through large-scale projects, and Labour did this, through their own fast track process during the COVID period.

But what we didn't do was erode the recognition of our environment.

Our job is to protect that for future generations and ensure that we're meeting our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Does Labour share that concern, and could further protections be put in place under a Labour government to ensure our public land doesn't see such sales going forward?

Well, nationals refuse to rule out selling some of our most high-value conservation land, and I think of places like Aotea Conservation Park, Cathedral Clothes, And then I think about the reaction from iwi that they are offended by this, that's had to go to court to be able to sort this out.

And I think in principle, at the very least, that should there be a sale, that these would be available for iwi in the first place and that they shouldn't have to pay for it as a part of a Waitangi claim.

How does Labour balance those economic benefits against environmental risks?

Well, you can walk and chew gum at the same time.

And this is where the national-led government and Christopher Luxon continue to fail our environment and treaty rights.

It's important that while they can create jobs through large-scale projects, and Labour did this through their own fast-track process during the COVID period, but what we didn't do was erode the recognition of our environment.

Our job is to protect that for future generations and ensure that we're meeting our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.