Labour once believed in working people. What happened? – Jonathan Ayling

Opinion byColumnist·NZ Herald·28 Oct, 2026 04:00 PM5 mins to readJonathan Ayling is a strategy consultant and professional director. ‌Labour is promising eligible Kāinga Ora tenants a $100 a week credit toward ownership of their property. But the party's justification for the policy carries implications about the helplessness of poorer Kiwis, Jonathan Ayling writes. Image / NZMELabour’s latest housing policy promises eligible working tenants in Kāinga Ora a $100 weekly credit towards buying the home they rent. And for every Kāinga Ora house sold, Labour promises to build three new state houses. Home ownership is the foundation of a property-owning democracy, and a worthy ambition.