Source: Radio New Zealand
Labour leader Chris Hipkins is set to deliver a State of the Nation speech in Auckland, but the party is not promising many bells and whistles ahead of the address.
Hipkins will speak to the Auckland Business Chamber, just as National leader Christopher Luxon did in January – although Labour’s is expected to be a more low-key event than Luxon’s International Convention Centre affair.
The speech will be livestreamed at the top of this page from about 12.35pm.
Hipkins is not expected to announce any new policies during his speech, with Labour preferring to wait until after the Budget to add significant policies to its existing suite.
So far Labour has announced a policy of three free GP visits, funded by a targeted capital gains tax, as well as a Future Fund, free cervical screening, and a GP loan scheme.
Chris Hipkins is speaking to the Auckland Business Chamber. RNZ / Mark Papalii
Hipkins has confirmed Labour would repeal the Regulatory Standards Act, and reinstate the full pay equity system – though he has been reluctant to say how Labour would pay for the latter.
He also would not say if Labour would replenish the disbanded climate resilience fund, and will not set out partners Labour is prepared to go into coalition with until closer to the election.
Labour was the highest-polling party in the most recent RNZ-Reid Research poll, but the coalition would still have the numbers to return to government.
The party has seen two high-profile departures from its Māori caucus, with former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe already bowing out, and former Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare also announcing his exit.
MP Peeni Henare has announced he’s leaving politics. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Henare will deliver his valedictory on 4 March.
State of the Nation speeches are a chance for party leaders to set out the priorities for the year ahead.
Earlier this year, Luxon confirmed the government would continue to run a tight Budget, and observed a “rupture” in the rules-based system.
Last weekend, ACT leader David Seymour took aim at “bureaucratic” governments that aren’t balancing their books, and confirmed ACT would again campaign on a smaller ministerial executive.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is set to deliver his speech in Tauranga in March.
The Greens, which prefer to call their address State of the Planet, are yet to confirm details of a 2026 speech.
On Sunday, Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni did not want to get ahead of her leader’s speech, when asked what the party’s message might be.
“You’ll just have to wait and see. I don’t think it’ll be very career-enhancing if I pre-empted Chippy’s State of the Nation speech,” she said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
