Goff 'in denial' over economy - Key

Labour Party leader Phil Goff. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key has hit back at Labour leader Phil Goff's Top 10 list of Government failings, saying Goff is "in denial'' and "needs to focus on reality''.

Mr Goff, Speaking at a Rail and Maritime Transport Union meeting in Wellington this morning, listed 10 shortcomings of the National government, including an unemployment increase of 50 per cent and 100,000 people moving across the Tasman.

But Mr Key brushed aside Mr Goff's comments, telling National Radio this afternoon he doesn't care what Phil Goff thinks, just what New Zealanders think.

"In the end, they've have had three years to judge that and if they want us back post November 26 they'll vote for us in the election.''

He called Mr Goff's list "rubbish'' and said he was "in a state of denial'' about the economic crisis "in the same way he's in denial about the fact that he won't admit his books won't add up''.

"He'd be better to focus on the real world. With the earthquakes and the various other things that have come on our plate in the last three years, they're difficult circumstances, they're not easy, but we've done the best we can.''

Goff's Top Ten list of Government failings

1. Unemployment has increased by 50 per cent, leaving 157,000 New Zealanders out of work.

2. 100,000 New Zealanders have left for Australia after he promised he would stop the brain drain.

3. Prices have gone up nearly four times faster than incomes over the past three years. Key raised prices by hiking GST after promising not to.

4. The first credit rating downgrade in 13 years and a double downgrade at that.

5. There are 60,000 more people on benefits costing an extra $1 billion a year.

6. The wage gap with Australia has increased by $32 a week.

7. There are 55,200 15 to 24 year olds not in education, employment or training.

8. The economy has grown by just 0.4 per cent since John Key took office.

9. National's tax cuts for the wealthy were to be paid for with GST. They actually cost an extra $1.1B in their first nine months.

10. The underclass has grown with the number of kids in benefit dependent households increasing by over 32,000 in the past three years.