NZ’s incoming PM says he’s ‘making haste’ on changes in priorities

New Zealand's new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaks at his first press conference at Parliament in Wellington on Jan 22, 2023. (MARTY MELVILLE / AFP)

WELLINGTON – New Zealand's incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday that his government would be "making haste" on reprioritizing and looking at whether current policies need to be scaled down.

Chris Hipkins is expected to be sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister on Wednesday after Jacinda Ardern officially resigns

Hipkins appeared Monday on a number of New Zealand media after he was chosen on Sunday to replace Jacinda Ardern as head of the Labour party, thereby making him the country's next prime minister.

ALSO READ: Chris Hipkins confirmed as New Zealand's new premier

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 programme 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 with Labour trailing the opposition in opinion polls and the country expected to fall into recession in the next quarter before a general election on Oct 14, but he was looking on the bright side.

ALSO READ: New Zealand PM Ardern says to step down next month

"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.

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