PM sets out targets for 2nd quarter

Christopher Luxon will today continue his CEO-style premiership, releasing a promised second-quarter action plan.

Titled the “Coalition Government’s Action Plan for New Zealand – 1 April-30 June 2024,” the plan runs through 36 “action points” the Government will take over the next three months.

The quarter has now also been aligned with the financial year and the Government says the focus is primarily on “rebuilding the economy and easing the cost of living”. The plan is similar to its initial 100-day plan which had a series of self-imposed targets.

“It’s just making sure that as we go through the gates of implementation of different decisions that we’re taking, that we’re actually consciously working, moving forward, as I keep saying,” Luxon said

He has leaned on his CEO experience about how he plans to get results out of people. He previously spoke about how he summoned the top 50 public sector leaders in for a pep talk, sending them away with reading material.

In an interview yesterday, he said that while some of the bits on the list were self-explanatory – such as legislating for tax relief – others were about taking decisions and continuing his “chunking it down” approach to reform.

“We’re actually still learning you can chunk those down into bite size bits and actually still digest it so that each quarter you actually are moving forward on that agenda.

Luxon defended his managerial style – which has come under criticism and ridicule from Labour – on the ground that the Government is making decisions and following through with promises.

“Sometimes what I’ve observed from governments is there’s a lovely conversation that takes place at a very esoteric and high level, and they just keep having the conversation and no-one actually... grounds it back to Earth.

“What’s the next step that we need to make a decision on what now and keep the show moving forward?”

The list is a mixture of new legislation to be introduced, some more repealing and promises to take decisions in regard to key issues.

Tax relief is No 2 on the list. It is joined by promises such as introducing legislation to improve the rental market, finalising policy to keep agriculture out of the emissions trading scheme, redoing the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act regime and establishing a regional infrastructure fund.

Luxon also said that while some things take time and need both consultation and careful deliberation, he expects his ministers to bring this list home by June 30.

“We really want the ministers to deliver on this agenda, and, you know, there would have to be a pretty good reason as to why it hasn't been delivered,” he said.

Luxon said he intended to keep up the frenetic speed at which the Government operated during its first 100 days. “In terms of pace, you know, we’ve got to keep going. I mean, we’ve got a big turnaround job to do.

He also came back to the basic point he has been making since coming into office – focusing on three key areas and making changes within that. “Just like our 100-day plan, this next action plan is focused on three key areas to make life better for Kiwis: 1. Rebuilding the economy and easing the cost of living; 2. restoring law and order; and 3. delivering better public services,” Luxon writes in his statement accompanying the quarterly plan.

“Having a clear plan with specific actions and time frames for delivery creates momentum and drives focus,” he said.

A longer version of this article including the 36-point action plan is at thepress.co.nz