Chris Hipkins pledges Labour-led government formation by Christmas

Chris Hipkins has committed to forming a Labour-led government by Christmas if elected, stating that New Zealanders require a government that “gets things done” rather than engaging in political arguments.

Hipkins outlined five immediate priorities for his first week in office, focusing on healthcare and the cost of living. Key healthcare proposals include ending the Health New Zealand hiring freeze, guaranteeing jobs for eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurses, launching an Emergency Department Recovery Plan, and introducing a ‘Medicard’ to provide three free GP visits and free prescriptions annually.

To address economic concerns, Hipkins proposed a three-year fuel tax freeze, public transport fare caps in major cities, and a 10 percent reduction in student loan balances for eligible borrowers starting July 2027. Additionally, he pledged to introduce legislation to ban price gouging on groceries, power, and petrol, while working to separate supermarket wholesale and retail operations.