Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the latest unemployment figures are "incredibly embarrassing" for the coalition government. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said while she would prefer the unemployment rate was lower, the underlying details were positive. Finance Minister Nicola Willis. But Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the latest unemployment figures are an indictment on the coalition. Photo: RNZGreen Party co-leader Marama Davidson said the figures showed the three party coalition of National, New Zealand First and Act was a "government of despair".

Source: Otago Daily Times February 04, 2026 16:18 UTC