The National Party has launched a new website so struggling Kiwis can share how the cost of living crisis is affecting them.
StatsNZ revealed earlier this month that annual inflation in the year to March 2021 had risen 6.9 percent, the largest year-on-year increase since 1990.
The main driver was housing and household utilities, influenced by rising prices for construction and rentals for housing. The next largest contribution was transport, influenced by the higher cost of petrol and second-hand cars. Food prices were up 6.7 percent annually, with fruit and veggies up a massive 17 percent.
National leader Christopher Luxon said the official figures can mask the real impact on regular Kiwis, and the new website www.costofliving.nz will allow the public to say about how rising prices are hurting them and their families.
"We know that Kiwis are doing it tough and we want your help to tell that story to try to make the Government listen," he said in a statement on Saturday.
"I want to hear from people like the young family I met in Ōtaki who put everything into buying their first home 18 months ago, but now face rapidly rising interest rates that will see their yearly mortgage costs go up by more than $6000.
"Or the hard-working young couple who came up to me on ANZAC Day - a teacher and a nurse - who can't save for a deposit for a house in the area they work in because their rent and living costs are going up. And think they may be able to build a better future in Australia.
"Inflation means different things for different people. That's why your story is important."
The Government has pointed to international factors behind the skyrocketing inflation rate, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the impact of the Omicron outbreak on supply chains both globally and here in New Zealand.
Speaking after the inflation figures were announced, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said other countries around the world were seeing soaring inflation.
"That doesn't make it any easier for the New Zealanders who are experiencing it. But it does tell us where those pressures are coming from," she said.
Ardern said the Government had attacked one of the biggest contributions to inflation - petrol prices - by slashing fuel excise tax by 25 percent per litre while also halving public transport fare prices.
On April 1, a package of benefit rate, minimum wage and tax credit increases came into effect, which the Government said will help low and middle-income families fight rising prices, while the Winter Energy Package returns from May 1.
However, Luxon said the Government needed to present a plan to get inflation under control.
"Kiwis are facing the consequences of Labour's poor economic management, with inflation in New Zealand outpacing Australia's and many other countries.
"Rents are up $150 a week since 2017, interest rates are rising and wages increases are barely a third of inflation. Kiwis are going backwards under Labour and many families are struggling to make ends meet."
ACT leader David Seymour said it was a "direct result of Labour's addiction to borrowing and spending".
"Its relentless borrowing and spending has added to the cost of just about everything. Prices are rising because there's too much money chasing too few goods."
ACT has its own page for Kiwis to say how rising prices are affecting them.
