National Criticises Labour for “Off the Hoof” Policy Announcement

The National Party has criticised the opposition Labour Party over what it calls another example of poor planning, following a surprise announcement about creating an Independent Pricing Authority for GPs.

In a statement released on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, senior National MP Chris Bishop said the policy, revealed by Ayesha Verrall in an article for NZ Doctor magazine, appeared to take even Labour leader Chris Hipkins by surprise when asked about it by reporters.

Bishop said the proposal was “another attempt to look busy without doing the hard work,” and claimed it lacked costings, planning, and supporting evidence. He argued that the announcement shows “the same level of confusion and lack of structure that marked Labour’s six years in government.”

According to Bishop, “after years of mismanagement, waste, and decline in public services, Labour still has not learned. Whenever they come under pressure, they announce something half formed with no detail and no direction.”

He added that New Zealanders have seen this pattern before, saying Labour “talks big, spends big, and delivers little.” Bishop also linked the criticism to broader concerns about the economy, health, and transport, accusing Labour of leaving public services in decline.

National said that while Labour is “scrambling for headlines,” it is focused instead on “disciplined work to rebuild the economy, reduce inflation, lower interest rates, and deliver better public services.”

Political observers say the exchange reflects rising competition between the two major parties as debate intensifies around the future of health funding and service delivery. Labour is expected to release more details about its health proposals later this month.

References

1. New Zealand National Party, Press Release: Labour’s Incompetence Continues With More Off the Hoof Policy, 21 October 2025.
2. NZ Doctor Magazine, Opinion by Ayesha Verrall, October 2025.