National Party leader Simon Bridges has accused the coalition government of accelerating rent increases and undermining their own claims that they prioritise lower-income households.

Median rents have risen by $30 a week in the past 12 months – an increase of $1560 a year – and the Tauranga MP has suggested rents have gone up two-and-a-half times faster under the Labour-led administration than under the previous National government.

'Rent hikes are just the latest burden on Kiwis from a government slow to learn about the unintended consequences of bad policy,” says Simon, 'such as fees-free tertiary education that largely benefits high income households or petrol taxes that are regressive and disproportionately hurt the poor.

'A raft of poorly thought through policies are behind the recent spike in rents, including extending the bright-line test, ring fencing of losses, more burdensome regulations, the ban on foreign investment and the threat of a capital gains tax.

'All of these policies discourage private rentals and inevitably drive up rents. For the third of New Zealanders who don't own their home, these policies are doing more harm than good.”

The 42-year-old has also taken a swipe at Minister for Housing and Urban Development Phil Twyford, accusing him of 'losing credibility”.

'Mum and Dad investors are being driven out of the property market by the ‘like it or lump it' Housing Minister,” adds Simon.

'But as the KiwiBuild mess shows, Phil Twyford has lost credibility to manage change in his portfolio, having inflated expectations and under-delivered.

'The government hates to admit it, but it inherited an economy in good shape and National is pleased to see that momentum continue.

'The Finance Minister claims credit for any positive data, but the reality is that the economy's strength was built under nine years of National.

'Right now we have a government that is just costing New Zealanders more.”