Instead, unemployment continues to rise and Kiwis are paying the price,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. “Under National unemployment is at an 11-year high. That’s the real cost of National’s economic choices. “Māori and Pasifika communities continue to bear the brunt of National’s failure, with unemployment remaining significantly higher than the national average at 10.8% and 11.6%. “Labour is focused on real ways to grow our economy and get more Kiwis back into work,” Barbara Edmonds said.