As Building and Construction Minister, does he agree with Rt Hon Chris Hipkins who said in May 2026 that "Twenty thousand jobs have been lost in the building and construction sector" and "the people in hard hats had their jobs taken away by this Government, who decided to pause everything, review everything, cancel everything, and it is the people on the front lines doing the work who found their jobs disappeared as a result of those decisions."; if not, why not?

Asked by

Arena Williams

Member for Manurewa · Labour Party

• As Building and Construction Minister, does he agree with Rt Hon Chris Hipkins who said in May 2026 that "Twenty thousand jobs have been lost in the building and construction sector" and "the people in hard hats had their jobs taken away by this Government, who decided to pause everything, review everything, cancel everything, and it is the people on the front lines doing the work who found their jobs disappeared as a result of those decisions."; if not, why not?