Hipkins: Labour Party is in ‘new era’
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the party is “in a new era”, following a morning of closed-door discussions with the caucus during its annual retreat in the Wairarapa yesterday.
MP Kieran McAnulty also took the step, in addressing media, to dispel speculation that the party was unhappy with Hipkins staying on as leader of the Opposition. “We back him. We want him to be the leader ... and the PM in 2026.”
The party is strategising how to rebuild ahead of the 2026 election. Addressing media, Hipkins said MPs had had some “really useful discussions this morning, very much focused on the future”, and the party was “in good heart”.
He also took aim at the National Party, which announced that it was halting Significant Natural Areas. “They have a lot of things they want to stop, cancel, but they don’t actually have a plan for New Zealand’s future.”
The party was not announcing new policy, and Hipkins said it would not “be barking at every passing car”.
“We will be selective about the issues we campaign on. New Zealanders get pretty cynical when all they see from Opposition is moaning and whining and complaining. New Zealanders want to see some alternatives and a positive vision for the future.”
Earlier, Hipkins said the centre-left party’s first task was to build back the relationship with New Zealanders and Labour Party members. “We have an opportunity over the next 24 months to rebuild that and to rebuild that support base and to make sure that we win back the trust and confidence of New Zealanders.”
As relaxed MPs arrived at Brackenridge Country Retreat and Spa, they were all singing off the same songsheet: that Labour is a united party, has learned the lessons of pre-Jacinda Ardern era Labour division, and is ready to plan for this term of Parliament.
Hipkins strolled out to talk to media, sharing that he had been for a run at 6am, before taking it to the National-led Government.
“I want to make sure that when the next election rolls around, we are the best-prepared potential incoming government that New Zealand has ever seen – that we don’t just have good ideas, but we’ve actually worked them through to the point where we know how they will be implemented, we know what they are going to cost, we know when they will be implemented.”
Former revenue minister and Labour MP David Parker said tax would be one of many areas discussed by the party over the coming months. “There’s a bit of buyer’s remorse out there,” Parker said.
“I certainly have well-known views – I think our current tax system is very, very unfair. Working New Zealanders pay for everything – they pay for all the transfer payments, the hospital systems, the schools. The wealthy in New Zealand pay very little tax.”
Parker, who was in favour of a wealth tax and worked on introducing one under the former Government, confirmed that he held the same view, and said it was important that the Labour Party debated it.
“It’s a very proper debate to have. You’ll know I favour a wealth tax, but there’s also arguments in favour of a capital gains tax, and that’s a debate the country and the Labour Party has to have.”