2. Question No. 2—Prime MinisterNICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 2—Prime Minister2. NICOLA WILLIS (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that New Zealanders earning the average wage have seen their incomes increase significantly under this Government" and what is the change in real after-tax average wages since 2017?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): Yes. The Treasury advise that after tax real wages have increased by 2.6 percent between the third quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2022. I'd also caution the member that this calculation excludes transfers such as the family tax credit and Best Start which this Government has also consistently increased during our time in office which of course increases the incomes of families.Nicola Willis: Is he aware that according to Statistics New Zealand's household labour force survey after-tax average wages for Kiwi workers have increased by 16.5 percent since 2017 while the Consumers Price Index—that is the cost of living—has increased by 20 percent meaning typical New Zealand workers have gone backwards under Labour?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I was referring to the quarterly employment survey statistics which are the same statistics that her predecessor as National Party finance spokesperson and former Minister of Finance Bill English consistently used in this House as the benchmark of wage growth under the previous Government.Nicola Willis: Does the Prime Minister understand that nominal pay increases received by Kiwi workers have been eaten up by record increases in inflation and higher levels of tax?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Despite the very slow and measured tone of the member's explanation to me the quarterly employment survey does not bear out the claim that she has just made.David Seymour: Does the Prime Minister really believe that people's wages after tax are going up faster than inflation and if so are Kiwis up and down this country struggling to make ends meet wrong when they say there is a cost of living crisis?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Government has never denied that there is a cost of living crisis; in fact it is our number one issue along with ensuring that we support New Zealanders through the recovery from the cyclone.Nicola Willis: Does the Prime Minister deny that under his Government real wages have fallen behind the cost of living?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I have indicated the quarterly employment survey data does not bear out the member's claim. I do want to acknowledge though that we are in a period where we are seeing a significant escalation in costs as a result of higher than acceptable inflation and we do want to see inflation coming back down so that New Zealanders who are working hard are able to get ahead.Nicola Willis: Why won't the Government reduce income tax levels for hard-working New Zealanders?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Government's focus is on making sure that New Zealanders who work hard can get ahead. I know the member wants to have a debate about tax but she doesn't seem to be able to land on her own tax policy when it comes to this particular matter.Nicola Willis: Isn't it in fact the case that under his Government New Zealanders have gone backwards in real terms and are paying a higher proportion of tax than in any time in 17 years and why hasn't his Government acted to correct it?Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Well I refer the member again for about the fourth time to my primary answer."