Kia ora John,

Today we officially launched Labour’s 2020 Campaign in Auckland’s Town Hall, and I’m really excited about what we can achieve together over the next six weeks.

Anyone who’s ever been in a room full of Labour supporters will tell you that the energy and enthusiasm is pretty incredible. But for me, today’s launch was even more special than usual, because, just a few months ago, an event like this would not have been possible.

The fact we could gather together - that’s all thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of every single New Zealander, and so for this, I want to say thank you.

Of course, campaign launches aren’t just about getting together with friends and supporters - they’re also the time for political parties to set out their vision for voters.

This time around, Labour’s message is simple: We need to keep up the momentum and keep New Zealand moving.

Our five-point rebuild and recovery plan is already well underway, and thanks to our strong response to COVID-19, New Zealand now has an economic head start. However, we know the global pandemic will continue to be a challenge, and it’s really important that, as New Zealand’s recovery continues, we don’t leave anyone behind.

That’s what’s at stake this election, and that’s what our campaign is all about. 

We’re committed to rebuilding our economy while also supporting those who are likely to be hardest hit by the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Today I announced the next step in our plan to make this a reality: a policy that will support up to 40,000 more New Zealanders into employment.

If re-elected, we will expand the Flexi-wage programme, which provides targeted support to people receiving a benefit or at risk of losing their job, to get them into work or help them start their own business. You can read more about the programme here, but in short, it’s about getting our economy moving without leaving anyone behind.

Expanding Flexi-wage is only one of the ways we’ll continue to roll out our rebuild and recovery plan and support New Zealanders. But we can only continue this if we’re able to secure a second term in Government, and so, I wanted to finish this email by asking for a favour.

Today, as our campaign officially kicks off, can you chip in to support our plan to keep New Zealand moving?

This campaign is going to be a challenging one, and a lot is at stake. We can’t afford to put the brakes on now, and even a few dollars will be a big help in getting our message out to voters across New Zealand and helping to re-elect our Labour team to Government. If you’re able to, chip in now to support our campaign.

Finally, I want to thank you for all your support so far. On the days when things are tough, knowing so many people like you stand behind Labour and support our vision for a better, fairer New Zealand makes all the difference.

Together, let’s keep moving.

Jacinda