Two Labour Party members' bills have been narrowly defeated at their first reading in Parliament.
The bills, which included raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, were both voted down in their first readings by 61 votes to 59.
MP David Clark, who sponsored the bill to increase the minimum wage, told the House it would be beneficial for low income families and would help stimulate the economy.
MP Shane Jones' bill would have allowed the Ombudsman to recover costs from agencies that are subject to a complaint, including local and central government.
