New Zealand’s Incoming PM Says “Making Haste” on Policy Changes, Priorities

By Staff, Agencies

New Zealand’s incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday his government would be “making haste” on reprioritizing and looking at whether current policies need to be scaled down.

Hipkins appeared on Monday on a number of New Zealand media outlets.

On Sunday, he was chosen to replace Jacinda Ardern as head of the Labor party, thereby making him the country’s next prime minister.

Hipkins told TVNZ’s Breakfast on Monday that the government would be refocusing on “bread and butter issues” for New Zealand including inflation and would look at reining in other policies, without elaborating.

“We’ll be making haste on all of those issues,” Hipkins told a second morning program the AM Show. “Within the next few weeks you’re going to see quite a lot of clarity around us about reprioritization.”

Hipkins has a tough road ahead.

Labor is trailing the opposition in opinion polls and the country is expected to fall into recession in the next quarter.

A general election is due on Oct 14.

However, the new prime minister is looking on the bright side.

“I’m really optimistic, I’ve had a huge amount of support. And I think New Zealand are giving me a fair hearing,” Hipkins said on the program.

Labor has pursued a number of policies that have been unpopular or seen as expensive by many voters.

These include the proposed merging of state-owned radio and television stations and an overhaul of ownership of the country’s water infrastructure.

Hipkins is expected to be sworn in as prime minister on Wednesday after Ardern officially resigns.