Hipkins’ speech gave a glimpse of what is safe from the ongoing policy bonfire: his attempt to trim the Government programme back to “bread and butter” issues.
But in a sign of what would likely dominate much of the coming political agenda, much of the speech focused on the recent devastating storms and aftermath.
Hipkins said 2023 had the potential to be a “very difficult year for many Kiwis”, but that Kiwis were “resourceful and determined” said could “tap into the collective will and spirit”.
“We will get through this,” he said.
Hipkins also spoke to the need for much stronger action on climate change, including a veiled dig at National after MP Maureen Pugh today questioned human influence on climate change despite overwhelming scientific evidence.
“We are well past the point where we should question the impact of human beings on climate change.”
Hipkins said that would play into the storm rebuild.
“Business as usual won’t work anymore... Billions of dollars is going to be required not just to repair but become more resilient.”
Hipkins said the Government’s main focus remained on addressing the cost of living.
He outlined further reprioritisation of the agenda to come, but restated the Government would not walk away from Three Waters reforms in their entirety saying recent events had shown water infrastructure had been “tested and found wanting”.
“Patching” it up would not cut it, nor would the Government abandon local authorities, he said.
National Party Christopher Luxon responded first to Hipkins’ statement, followed by other party leaders.
Luxon called out the Government’s rebuild plans, saying it had failed to deliver in the past.
The first Question Time will be tomorrow.
The statement was delayed by a week by Cyclone Gabrielle, and Hipkins said the scale of damage from that would clearly have an impact on what he was planning to say.
“There will be a recognition we are still in an emergency response .. there are still people in a pretty precarious position around the country. That clearly is going to have an impact on the Government’s focus this week but it will also have an impact on the nature of the debate in Parliament.”
His policy stocktake has so far resulted in the axing of the merger of TVNZ and RNZ and the biofuels mandate and the deferral of an income insurance scheme and hate speech legislation.
Hipkins has said further announcements in his policy reset were coming – including around changes to the Three Waters programme and the Government’s planned transport and infrastructure programme.
The statement will set out what policies are safe from the Hipkins review. However, Cyclone Gabrielle is likely to affect it – as resources are needed to rebuild the roads and infrastructure in the hardest-hit areas.
Hipkins has also defended the lack of detail in the funding allocations of a $50 million business support scheme and $250 million for urgent roadworks on key routes, announced yesterday.
Hipkins said details on the business support scheme - aimed at giving businesses money tide them over in the short term or help get them back up and running - would be known in the next few days. The Ministry for Primary Industries would take care of the applications from the primary sector. “That should be up and running pretty quickly.”
Local business associations were working on allocations for other businesses, and that too was expected in the near future.
“We’ll be working to get that money out the door and into the hands of businesses as quickly as possible.”
He emphasised it was only an initial injection and insurance would cover a lot of the cost once claims were processed. “Government is only there to ensure we are filling some of the gaps.”
Changes to immigration settings to try to get the workers needed for the rebuild are also expected in the next week – one of the things Immigration Minister Michael Wood is considering is a rebuild visa, as was used after the Christchurch earthquakes.
