National's Bill English says the Government needs to pick up its act

National leader Bill English says the new Government's first 100 days have been marked by policy backflips and the creation of 10 inquiries and working groups that are the hallmark of a weak and confused Government.

"The 100 days have been characterised by a number of policy backflips as the three disparate parties try and work out who is on top in policy areas as diverse as justice, immigration, employment, water storage, and the environment," he said.

"On top of that, we have seen the creation of 10 separate inquiries and working groups that are the hallmark of a Government that has no idea what to actually do across a range of policy areas."

The 100 day programme was the priority programme of the new Labour-New Zealand First coalition Government, which is supported on confidence and supply by the Greens.

Among the 17 policies was setting up a royal commission of inquiry into abuse of children in state care, and an inquiry into mental health services.

Among the backflips, English cited Labour's promise to: slash immigration by 20,000 to 30,000, setting up a new housing ministry, and repeal of 90-days trials for all new employees.

He said no one knew what the Government's immigration policy was.

"He said the Government had overseen a large fall in business confidence, failed to set meaningful targets for action on child poverty and done away with the social investment approach that would have delivered real improvements in the lives of New Zealanders.

The child poverty reduction targets of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern included a goal to reduce poverty by 100,000 on one measure (before housing costs) within 10 years – whereas National during the election campaign had promised the same level of reduction in one term of Government.

"It is clear the Coalition still has its training wheels on. It seriously needs to pick up its act if it is going to have any success working on issues that New Zealanders care about," he said.

"The trouble is that it only gets worse from here. At least for the first 100 days there is a checklist. From here on they have to deal with very tight fiscal constraints and a widely divergent set of views on the priorities and the policy areas that should be funded.

"This is a weak Government that is struggling to gain any real momentum beyond taking $1060 a year off hard-working middle income earners and giving it to first year tertiary students," English said.

"They need to start getting their act together."