Stanford, Williams make final pitches on Q+A as election nears

Senior National MP Erica Stanford has called the timing of a critical Waitangi Tribunal report released a week before the election “interesting”, while Labour’s Arena Williams says Air New Zealand could be targeted under a price gouging law the party wants if elected.

The tribunal found the Crown breached the principle of partnership by “acting unilaterally and abruptly” in removing school boards’ obligation to give effect to te Tiriti.

Jack Tame challenges Erica Stanford over Waitangi Tribunal report - watch on TVNZ+

Asked on Q+A this morning whether she knew the report was coming this week, Stanford said: “I suspected it probably would."

Interviewer Jack Tame asked why she thought that.

"Well, it’s just interesting timing. It’s all I’ll say," the party's education spokesperson said, adding that "well, we're a week out from an election. It is what it is."

Asked whether she thought the tribunal had weaponised the timing, Stanford said: “Oh, look, I’m not going to get into that.”

She defended the priorities of the coalition. “What I will not apologise for is raising Māori achievement, because that’s what we’re doing.”

Throughout the interview, the education spokesperson framed her argument as National’s focus on “value”, accusing the previous Labour government of simply “doling out cash” to schools without measuring money was well used.

Meanwhile, Stanford – who is in a safe blue seat as an electorate MP – said she was confident about the election result for her party, based on National’s own polling.

“I'm really confident that we're going to get there. When I look at the statistics in our own internal polling, I’m very very confident," she said.

"It means that you have to get out there and party vote National. Don’t get cute about it.”

Speaking to RNZ on Thursday, Labour campaign chairperson Kieran McAnulty claimed Labour’s internal numbers had the party in front.

Both major parties have leaned on their internal numbers despite the fact that the combined share of votes for the big two is at its lowest levels ever.

Stanford is one of National’s most senior ministers in the coalition government – holding the education and immigration portfolios. Earlier in the year, she was heavily rumoured to be a leadership contender against party leader Christopher Luxon – speculation she denied.

Meanwhile Labour's commerce spokesperson Arena Williams – an increasingly high-profile opposition spokesperson – said the party’s proposed anti-price gouging law could apply to Air New Zealand, because it has substantial market power.

Labour's Arena Williams on gang issue that led to resignation - watch on TVNZ+

She gave the example of a mother flying to a family event during the school holidays.

“You would be looking at those prices and thinking they have tripled for this period. They are much, much higher than they would otherwise be if Jetstar was running the route at the same time," Williams told Q+A.

“We need to make sure that price gouging rules apply to these things."

Williams was also challenged on Labour's position of excess supermarket profits. The party has proposed separating wholesale and retail functions of the two big players.

Speaking on Q+A, she pointed to Commerce Commission findings of up to $1 million a day in excess profits in the $25 billion industry.

But Tame said that spread across the whole population, the roughly $365 million a year came to about $1.50 a week per person.

“It’s not actually that much once you spread it over the entire population,” Tame said.

Williams said the figure mattered for Kiwis who had nowhere else to go to shop.

“When you think about the people who are going to the supermarket and they cannot choose to go to another grocer... we want to make sure that those New Zealanders are getting the best deal for their money when every dollar counts".

Stanford was also asked about National MPs criticising opposition MPs over meetings with gang members in recent weeks.

Stanford, who has led the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in state care, was asked whether she had reminded colleagues of the role that abuse in state care played in the rise of gangs.

“We are very aware of the impacts of state abuse in care, right? No one needs to be reminded of that,” she said.

Stanford emphasised that most people abused in care did not go on to commit serious violent crimes or join gangs.

“I just think there’s a very big difference between going to a gang pad and trying to get their votes than my role of making sure that we’re dealing with victims of state abuse in care fairly and reasonably," the spokesperson said.

"Those two things are poles apart, and we should not conflate them.”

Meanwhile Williams, who campaigned alongside Labour's ex-candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau in the past, said she did not know beforehand that the now independent Kerrin Leoni planned to attend an event with gang members amid her campaign.

“We all have to look after each other, and this was a mistake. It was a mistake that she has admitted to, and the penalty that she has paid is high.”

Leoni resigned over the event after it was reported on, drawing sustained criticism from opposing parties.

For the full interviews, watch the videos above

Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air