New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern talks government progress ahead of a 2020 general election
Economic growth has slowed and new restrictions on foreign investment in real estate have affected business confidence, but Jacinda Ardern is defending her government's progress.
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"Our growth rate's actually, relatively to others, are holding up well -- 2.4 percentile unemployment is some of the lowest we've had in a decade, our wage growth, of course, is critically important to us to make sure we continue to outstrip the cost of living, over 4 percent as well, some of the highest levels in a decade. So all of those economic measures, and our debt, is low relative to GDP, under 20 percent, so actually the foundations of our economy are strong."
Ardern and her Labour Party's popularity is slipping in the polls as voters worry that her government has not yet made good on promises like tackling rising levels of homelessness and urban poverty.
Ardern, 39, faces a general election expected in the second half of 2020.
Political pundits are predicting a close contest, with scheduled referendums on legalising cannabis and euthanasia expected to be divisive.
