National claims $18.2 billion shortfall in Labour's fiscal plans

National accused Labour on 14 June of failing to account for an $18.2 billion gap between its announced spending and proposed revenue measures. The claim measures the structural shortfall in operating accounts as National's fiscal team calculates it, though the methodology remains unpublished. Labour has not yet released a detailed fiscal plan addressing the charge. The attack follows a sequence of National fiscal challenges on Labour stretching back several election cycles and comes as both parties position ahead of the next general election.