Additionally, Luxon laughed at Hosking’s claims that they both would not be alive to see the CRL open, reaffirming his commitment to opening it next year.
“Well, we’ve got a New Zealand International Convention Centre that’s kicking off at the beginning of the year. That’s going to be blooming brilliant, and we need the CRL to be the accompaniment piece to that, and the sooner they get it done and open, the better.”
Luxon was not asked about the text sent to him by Anna Mowbray to express disappointment about National’s announcement of legislation to ban social media for under-16s.
The text was sent just days before an event to launch a campaign on the issue.
The text followed weeks of lobbying by members of B416, a group calling for tighter control on youth access to social media. .
Emails and text messages obtained by the Herald under the Official Information Act (OIA) reveal B416’s advocacy attempts as well as efforts to get Luxon to attend an event where the group planned to launch their campaign to ban social media for those under 16 years old.
Meanwhile, the National Party has yet to make any pledges since its announcement to lift the default KiwiSaver contribution rate if it were to be elected next year.
Luxon said that the changes would allow savers to contribute 12% of their earnings to KiwiSaver, a level to match Australia’s superannuation contribution rate, although in Australia, the whole contribution comes from the employer.
The figure would come from hiking the default contribution rate from 3%, where it is today, to 4%, as it is set to go following decisions in this year’s Budget, to 6% by 2032.
The employer contribution would also rise to 6%, achieving a combined rate of 12% by 2032.
Luxon said under the changes, a 21-year-old earning $65,000 a year today would retire with a KiwiSaver balance of about $1.4 million, about $400,000 more than they would earn under the settings as at the most recent Budget.
